American robins typically live for about 2 years. During their short lifespans they typically care for 4-6 broods. For each brood, they either construct a new nest or substantially renovate a previously-used nest. The process of nest building and caring for chicks usually occurs during the 5 months between March and July of each year….
Category: Leadership
What’s The Recipe?
Some version of this question is asked by every person new to advancement work. “What are the steps to close a major gift?” “What is the process for increasing annual gifts?” “What’s the recipe?” The advancement analogy of a food recipe is a good one. The personal meal preparer typically follows a recipe closely. The…
Escaping The Special Events Horizon
The physicists who study black holes tell us that nothing, including light, can escape the black hole’s “event horizon,” or that place where the edge of the black hole meets the rest of space. The gravitational pull of the black hole is so strong that all matter crossing the event horizon falls inward. The “gravitational…
Our Role
It’s not to get people to show up, although that is part of it. It’s not to get people to engage, although that is part of it. It’s not even to get people to give, although that is part of it. Our real role is to create the conditions so that more people want to…
It Didn’t Work!
“Our calendar year end direct mail solicitation was not as successful as we had hoped.” Was it because the message was ineffective? Or, was it because too many reviewers delayed the production process and made the piece late arriving in mailboxes? “I didn’t have as many visits this year with my assigned donors as I…
Helpful Volunteers
If we start with the belief that volunteers can help advance our mission in important ways, then, we need to also realize that it is likely they won’t understand how to do that effectively without our guidance. It is unwise (and will be viewed as unprofessional, btw), to invite people to volunteer and, then, also…
Working On or With Problems
An alternative take on Seth Godin’s recent post on problems and situations. It’s easy to work on problems. Especially if they appear without warning and seem urgent. We stop and look for solutions. We put out fires immediately. It’s much more helpful, though, to have the discipline to ask whether an emergent problem is…
Life Hacks
You may complete the task faster. The shortcut actually might get you there quicker. But there is a reason for the “longcut.” For many important life outcomes, seeking a hack, bypass, or a quicker workaround is wasting time and potentially derailing our progress. Eating better. Getting physically fit. Feeling better emotionally. Saving for retirement. Building…
Noise
Marketing colleagues talk regularly about breaking through the significant noise on social media, legacy channels, like direct mail, and even in face-to-face meetings. How can we capture attention? How can we keep attention? How can we motivate helpful action in others? Important to keep in mind, though, that some of the loudest, most disruptive noise…
A Resolution for Generosity
Good morning and welcome to 2025! I hope the last evening of 2024 was an enjoyable one for you, your family, and friends. As many people establish resolutions for the New Year, I thought I’d share mine. I’m calling this “A Resolution for Generosity.” I hope I can keep it. In a world full of…