At a national conference for advancement leaders yesterday, I listened to a keynote presentation given by Patrick F. Bassett, president of the National Association of Independent Schools, regarding key trends and predictions for advancement. One statement he made struck a chord with me, “We are learning from surveys that major donors are reporting an increase…
Category: Fundraising
Asking for Money or Educating?
Do you view your work as asking donors for money? Or do you view your work as educating donors? The difference, of course, is substantial. One question, the first, is focused on a transaction in which we get some of what the donor has. It also suggests that we are responsible for the asking. On…
When Donors Say Hello
“Hello??!!??” We’ve all heard that word – used in that way – before. You, perhaps, have used it yourself. You’re at a store and the teenage clerk doesn’t stop the personal call on her mobile phone long enough to scan your items on the belt. You may feel the urge to say, “uhh, Hello??!!??” As…
The Most Important Prediction for the Next Decade
I’ve made broad and sweeping predictions on how technology, donor expectations and regulation, and major gifts will impact philanthropy and our work in the next decade. Now, I offer the final, most important philanthropy prediction for the next decade. . . 2020 Philanthropy Prediction 10: Institutions that thrive will systematically and regularly ask donors for…
2020 Philanthropy Predictions – Part III
Below is the third installment in the four-part series devoted to philanthropy predictions for the 2010-2019 decade. Part I focused on how technology will change our work over the next 10 years, while Part II focused on the ways donor expectations and the regulatory environment will impact our work. Part III focuses on major gift…
2020 Philanthropy Predictions – Part II
Below is the second in a four-part series devoted to philanthropy predictions for the 2010-2019 decade. The first three predictions in Part I focused on how technology will change our work over the next 10 years. Part II below is focused on how donor expectations and the regulatory environment will impact our work. So, without…
2020 Philanthropy Predictions – Part I
Welcome to 2010! (Is that Two-thousand and Ten, Twenty-Ten, or Oh-Ten?) Whatever the name, our new year and new decade are here. At the end of 2009 (i.e. last week), I promised a list of philanthropy predictions for the next decade so here goes! I’m going to provide 10 predictions in total. The first three…
The Real Gift of Philanthropy
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams Most folk who work with donors think of themselves as “development officers” first and “philanthropic leaders” almost never. I have become convinced, though, that capably serving in the field of development and…
Going Quant While Staying Quaint
I have written and presented on the use of quantifiable performance measurements in the development profession for a number of years. Having a thoughtfully-crafted set of quantifiable performance measurements is a simple, straightforward, and powerful way to encourage, assess, and reward effectiveness. In general, most development professionals who care about their craft want to…
Don’t Get Things Done in 2010
Marketing guru Seth Godin’s new free e-book, “What Matters Now” includes 70 different authors’ ideas on what we should be thinking about in 2010. In the book Gina Trapani suggests that “getting things done isn’t the same as making things happen.” I read this and thought of our work as development professionals and leaders. Too often…