If you’ve ever been admonished to “grow up,” you know the sting of those words can linger. One of the reasons these words stick with us like they do is because they demand much more than a simple change in our behavior. Rather, they are meant to communicate a much deeper transformation – a maturation…
Category: Leadership
3 Steps To Increasing “Donor Durability”
Some number of your major gift donors are what I would term “durable.” They are the ones who continue to give (often generously) regardless of their own personal and financial circumstances; they are the ones who are deeply committed to your mission; they are the ones who show up when you need it most; and…
What Is The Work?
What if the purpose of your campaign is not to raise extraordinary amounts of gift income, but instead is to educate potential givers on the need(s) being met by your institution? What if the purpose of your alumni relations event is not to ensure that people have an enjoyable experience, but instead is to remind them…
From “Why?” to “What?”
“Why?” isn’t the thing. It’s not the building project. Nor the endowment fund. It’s not the new program. Nor whatever the gifts might support. “Why?” is what will happen once you successfully build that building, or grow that endowed fund, or start that new program. “Why?” is how the money supports your mission and helps…
3 Often-Overlooked Principles for Effective Volunteer Engagement
Effectively engaging volunteers – be they Board members, campaign leaders, special event volunteers, advisory council members, or others – can be a tricky proposition. On the one hand, influential volunteers have an ability to open doors, leverage personal relationships, and tell the story of your institution with an authenticity that can be unmatched by those…
One Simple Way To Make Your Meetings More Productive
Workplace meetings are important. Studies show that collaboration in the workplace (meaning, when two or more people communicate to share ideas and achieve common goals) leads to all types of beneficial and excellent outcomes. From increased staff member retention to coming-up with more effective decisions, plans, and solutions, collaboration works. And while collaboration can happen…
Don’t Forget To Invite These Donors to Give Before December 31
Over the next 3 weeks, donors will be making far more charitable gifts than at any other time during the year. It is the season of giving – and donors respond. As you implement plans to encourage and remind donors to support your mission during this period of generosity, there is a group of donors…
A Giving Revival
A wonderful benefit of my work as a consultant is the opportunity I have to interview some of the wealthiest and most generous individuals in North America. I ask questions about their philanthropy – where they give, why they give, and how much they give. I listen to their life’s stories. And I attempt to…
It’s Lazy to Focus on “Working Harder”
You’ve heard it before. You may have said it yourself – to yourself or to others. You probably even believed it when you heard it or said it. And you may have thought it would motivate people toward better results. “We’ve just got to work harder.” In today’s world with tighter budgets and higher expectations,…
Responding to the Preemptive Gift
“Thanks for the lunch invitation. I appreciating you visiting with me,” the donor said. Before the gift officer could respond, the donor reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a check for $3,000. “And before I forget, I wanted to make sure I gave this to you,” he said. The gift was larger than…