Category: Branding

“Step right up, ladies, gentleman, and boys and girls of all ages!” This is the well-known patter of the old-fashioned carnival barker – or, as those who work in this field preferred to be called, “carnival talkers.” But underneath the slick, shouting, and staccato speech patterns recognized by most anyone who has attended a circus…

Your organizational strategic plan shouldn’t be. Your annual giving solicitation plan shouldn’t be. Your major gifts officer metrics program shouldn’t be. We shouldn’t create plans with the intent that they will change. Instead, we should do the hard work up front to identify the most impactful priorities, discern the most appropriate and inspiring goals for…

Everyone wants to “raise more money.” But few people (at least that I’m aware of), speak of wanting to  “scale generosity.” There is a difference. We can raise more money through a gimmick or activity that goes viral.  Recall the ALS Association’s Ice Water Bucket Challenge, which is celebrating a 10-year anniversary this summer. We…

Show someone a peer-reviewed, published study that contradicts their worldview and you might just hear, “those studies are all biased.” Share with someone recent data that suggests there are macro-level trends emerging that challenge their beliefs and you might just hear, “the organization that compiled that data is untrustworthy.” Present someone with statistics that suggest…

Some years ago on Facebook, I friended my favorite history professor from college. She was kind enough to accept and even though I’m pretty certain she did not recall me from 30+ years ago, she traded some messages with me back and forth. During one of our first exchanges I called her the only name…

All effective advancement work, from fundraising and constituent engagement, to communications and back-of-house data systems, begins with an institution-wide, mission-centered strategic plan. Donors don’t give to your institution as much as they give through your institution because of your mission and your future plans to make a meaningful difference in the world. To create a…

Almost everything gets better when you add patience. Patience is not synonymous with delaying.  Or waiting because of fear or anxiety.  Or “paralysis by analysis.” Patience is willing discipline.  Patience is knowing the outcome you are seeking and not getting distracted by chasing something else. Patience is kindness in the midst of turmoil. Patience is…

With the fiscal year ending for many in the higher education advancement world, the “season of annual planning,” soon will be fully upon us. Creating agendas for sessions, retreats, and meetings to plan for the new fiscal year’s aspirations, goals, and objectives is critical to healthy and effective planning.  In many instances, though, we program…

If we define constituent relations as those programs and activities designed to encourage people to engage more deeply with your mission or cause, then there are three primary aims of those efforts. First, constituent relations efforts should educate people.  Yes, this is education on your mission and it’s important impacts.  But, this version of education…

Dollars fundraised is, in most cases, an unhelpful goal. They are outcome measures over which we regularly do not have much control:  “How much of that $50 million was in current giving vs. planned gifts?” They are misunderstood:  “You mean that most of that $250 million raised will come in over the next 5 years?”…