Giving is Good
Dollars fundraised is, in most cases, an unhelpful goal. They are outcome measures over which we regularly do not have much control: “How much of that $50 million was in current giving vs. planned gifts?” They are misunderstood: “You mean that most of that $250 million raised will come in over the next 5 years?”…
Why are we holding that special event? Why are we sending that specific direct mail piece? Why did we request that particular list of donors? Why are we reaching out to our donors via phone? Why do we want to meet with that donor couple next month? Why are we highlighting that alumnus in our…
We can. . . . . .listen to defend ourselves. . . .listen to reply. . . .listen to rebut. . . .listen to negate the other’s perspective. . . .listen to convince. . . .listen to block. Or, we can. . . . . .listen to understand. . . .listen to co-create. . ….
Most everyone will say feedback is good – helpful and productive. But, some folks really don’t want it. Their decision feels good to them. Their choice makes sense to them. Their motivations are pure from their perspective. Their actions are the best they can do. When others, then, have a different viewpoint or experience with…
With each passing day, the roles we play grow more complex. No matter how we might define ourselves, our lot in life, our specific roles, or our individualistic views and perspectives, what we do becomes more complex over time. If you are a parent, for instance, your children aging and developing by the day makes…
I enjoy watching Denzel Washington act. His character range is staggering and I can’t recall a character he’s played that I found unbelievable. Recently I watched, “The Equalizer 3,” where he stars as Robert McCall, a retired special operations officer turned vigilante righting wrongs against evil across the globe on behalf of the innocent and…
Annual Giving – consistently invite donors to give in support of your cause/mission comprehensively; Constituent Relations – consistently engage volunteers to get others more involved with your cause/mission; Advancement Services – consistently produce standing reports that have clear and important purposes; Major Giving – consistently send creative and compelling messages that encourage donors to visit…
Fear in the workplace is a corrosive, anti-productive emotion. It prompts us to assume bad motivations in others without evidence. It prompts us to tell others about our value/experience instead of listening for ways we can learn from them. It prompts us to remove ourselves when we should lean in and be heard. It prompts…
Employing a well-planned, written meeting agenda is critical to making progress, staying focused, and, making people feel valued enough not to waste their time. However, in some circumstances, deviating from a well-planned agenda is warranted. If a governing board is discussing the potential of moving forward with a major fundraising campaign, that topic is probably…
. . . give to the annual fund. . . . care about giving levels or giving societies. . . . attend events. . . . respond to phone calls. . . . agree to face-to-face visits. It may, indeed, be true that, “our donors don’t,” do this or that. The data may support our…