We can hold one of two divergent beliefs about the purpose of our lives: First, we can order our lives with the belief that our purpose is to seek comfort, ease, luxury, or convenience for ourselves. Or, second, we can order our lives with the belief that our purpose is to seek meaning, significance, and consequence…
Category: Branding
Change
Few people will disagree with the notion that their advancement team could be more productive in some way(s). “I know we need to, and could, raise more money,” they will say. Or, “I agree that our donor communications and stewardship could be more consistent,” they will acquiesce. But, most people resoundingly disagree with the notion…
“You Doing Too Much”
My son’s high school basketball team regularly finds themselves at our house. They come over after practice. They come over to watch film. They come over between school ending and their game that night. They are around a lot. We enjoy having the them in our home – even with the noise, the mess, and…
Letter From Birmingham Jail
Around the time of each Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday in the U.S., I pause to re-read, “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” written by King to Christian and Jewish clergy in April of 1963. I encourage you to read it if you haven’t recently. It only takes me 10 minutes and I’m not a super-fast reader….
“How Much Money Did You Raise?”
Easily, one of the most unhelpful questions to ask someone in development, especially during a position interview. In many instances: The money received today was actually raised months, years, even decades ago; Even if the money received today was raised today, there were, most likely, other people and diverse motivations encouraging the donor to give;…
Donor Stewardship
It’s not about benefits, access, trinkets, or tchotchkes. It’s not even about impact, reports, recognition, or gratitude. It’s about the donor’s feelings. Before deciding to implement any particular donor stewardship activity or initiative, simply ask yourself this question: “If I were the donor on the receiving end of this experience, how would I feel about…
3 Simple Advancement Resolutions for 2024
Here are 3 simple advancement resolutions for the New Year, which, if implemented consistently, are guaranteed to make 2024 one of the best years you and your team have experienced. Invite more people. Consistently invite more people to volunteer, to give their advice, to offer their feedback, to visit with you, to attend an event,…
Giving As Loving
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 I memorized that verse as a child in Sunday School but never paid much attention to the lead-in phrase: “For God so loved the world that he…
Segmenting and Aggregating
Whether we have 1,000, 10,000, or 100,000+ donors, when we decide to invite each of them to make a gift we have choices to make. Typically, the first and most discussed choice is focused on segmenting our donors, or deciding which of these donors will receive which of our specific invitations. If we are doing…
“It’s All About The Fundraising Results”
Except when. . . it’s really about creating a culture where more people care enough to respond generously; it’s really about growing the board’s understanding of their philanthropic leadership; it’s really about helping the CEO experience the joy of inviting others to be supportive; it’s really about encouraging others to embrace the act of giving…