If your aim is to secure fundraising success for tomorrow, there are 3 commitments you should make today: 1. The Commitment to Encounter – in our hyper-linked, liked, and shared digital world, it is easy to believe in an illusion of human connection, in a misimpression of relationship, in a counterfeit version of knowing others….
Category: Nonprofit
Conforming To A Standard
There are 3 standards advancement programs can be measured against: The Standard of Averages – this compares your program results to an aggregate of other institutions which may (or may not) be similar to your institution and advancement program; The Standard of Specific Institutions – this compares your program results to a set of specifically…
And Now What?
Driving on a highway recently, I saw this sign: As I continued to speed down the roadway, I wondered what I was supposed to do in response to this new information that I, apparently, was entering a “blasting zone.” What did that mean for me? Was I in danger? Should I get off at the…
15 Words And Phrases We Need To Stop Using
“Asking for the gift” – instead, use “Inviting the gift” “Targeting the donor” – instead, use “Engaging the donor” “Donate” – instead, use “Give” “Small gifts” – instead, use “Modest gifts” “Donor appointment” – instead, use “Donor visit” “Hit rate” – instead, use “Proposal success rate” “Pushing donors to give more” – instead, use “Inviting…
A “Clean Handoff” Culture
Nothing much of significance happens in advancement through solitary effort. That gift the development officer is credited for soliciting? One colleague worked on the design of the proposal. Another colleague provided valuable insights about the gift amount through research. And, yet another helped arrange the lunch meeting where the donor was invited to give. That…
Combating The Biggest Lie
Snaking throughout all of human history, the biggest lie rears its hissing head time and again. It’s the lie that begets all other lies. It’s the lie that leads to indescribable atrocities and the lie that encourages and flames violence in all its forms. The biggest lie enables the “us versus them” lie. Because, the…
Being Busy
Stay with any hotel that’s part of a major flag since the beginning of the pandemic and one change that has stayed constant is the end of the daily housekeeping service. No fresh towels and no room cleaning each day, unless requested. The impetus for this change, of course, was the concern early in the…
Messy and Sticky
If your aim is to enhance the visibility of your institution, engage more advocates for your cause, and raise more money by making your work more orderly, organized, and programmed, you will have limited success. If your aim is to increase the number of donors who give at the $1,000+ level, have more people attend…
The 3 Most Important “Case For Support” Questions
Too many institutions start the draft of their “Case For Support” by focusing on the “support” part of that phrase. These are typical questions asked first: Project: What do we need money for? Priority: Is this project/initiative/building our most important priority? Details: How will we specifically spend the money? And while these are, ultimately important questions…