Refrigerator artwork is deeply personal and meaningful to the owner but, to the outside world, may not hold much value. The value of the crayon-colored rainbow scribbled on a piece of paper flows from the little person who drew it and their relationship to you, the owner of the refrigerator. On the other hand, we…
Category: Fundraising
Constantly Distracted
Back in the mid 1990s the word “pizzled” was coined. It was a mix between “puzzled” and “pissed” and was used to describe the feeling you might have when someone you were with decided to start talking on their mobile phone. Today, such distractions in the social arena are common and accepted. Have you been…
What Is Valuable?
What We Are Told To Value What Actually Is Valuable Task Accomplishment Relationship Building Competition Cooperation Individualism Teamwork Knowledge Caring Problem Solving Question Posing Telling Listening Through culture and institutions, our western world encourages us to value the items in the left column of the table more than the items in the right column. But…
Authentic Inquiry
To fully live into her promise, a development leader’s most valuable skill set is what I refer to as “authentic inquiry.” Here is how I define the concept: Authentic Inquiry is the gentle art of relationship-building through the process of asking well-framed questions based on your sincere interest in the other person and to which…
The Meal, the Menu, the Recipe, and the Grocery List
Meals are an experience. Good meals activates us. Exceptionally delectable meals with family and friends during special occasions are stored and relived as indelible memories for years to come. Some people (perhaps you!) can recall with fervid clarity the over-the-top chocolate dessert they had at a special restaurant a full 10 years later! When they…
On Becoming A Fundraising Artist
In David Bayles and Ted Orland’s book, Art & Fear, they tell a great story about becoming a better artist. Here it is: “The ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of the studio, he said, would be graded solely on…
Get Better in 2014 – Advancement Webinars and Workshops from the Institute
Start the year off right with high-quality, mind-stretching, solution-rich professional development opportunities. The Gonser Gerber Institute is offering the following webinars and workshops to help you and your team do the best possible advancement work in 2014. Below are three programs being offered early in the year: 5 Essential Tips: Innovative (And Inexpensive) Ways to…
When the Gift Is a Message
Sometimes a gift isn’t a just a gift. Sometimes a gift – especially the gift amount – is a message. Consider the $1000 to $50 continuum. Let’s say that a new donor gives your institution $50 one year and then $1,000 the next. In most instances, something has changed in a positive way with their…
Finding the Car, Then the Dealership
It wasn’t that long ago (pre-internet, actually) that people interested in buying a car would show up at the local dealership and begin the process of being “sold” a car. Those days are all but gone. Today, when people are interested in getting a new vehicle, they first scour the internet for their choice and…
What do we REALLY get when we give to a good cause?
Recently, Seth Godin blogged on the subject of giving. His entry entitled, “What do we get when we give to a good cause?” was a bit off base from my perch. His answer to this important question was simply, “A story.” He said, “In fact, every time someone donates to a good cause, they’re buying a…