Giving is Good
Some advancement professionals focus on the work. For instance: generating the segmented distribution list for the next direct mail solicitation, or designing the invitation for the annual donor recognition dinner, or reviewing the latest wealth indicator scores for the upcoming prospect management meeting, or creating the agenda for the next Board Advancement Committee meeting, or…
In the days before omnipresent and mobile internet devices, I once sat in a 100-person theatre-style classroom at Harvard University’s Management Development Program and watched in awe as a master-teacher recognized each student by name and by job-title. This faculty member had never been with our group previously and, yet, knew almost everyone’s particulars. A…
Humans are exceptionally artful when it comes to providing reasons for not behaving in ways that are in their long-term interests. For instance, ask people why they don’t eat more healthily, exercise more consistently, or save more for retirement, etc., and you’re likely to end up with a whole host of detailed reasons why, for…
Here are 5 lessons the pandemic has taught us about fundraising: If your goal is to engage donors well, you should spend far more time asking about and learning from them than you do sharing your case for support; The narratives of how your institution impacts those you serve – i.e., your mission – are…
As the first day of the new year dawns, there are fact-based reasons to hope that: The COVID-19 pandemic devolves into an endemic virus with seasonal surges like the common cold or influenza. The long-studied MRNA vaccine technology will help end so many chronic diseases such as HIV and many cancers. The record-setting $471.44 billion…
Being invited to the dance is not the same as being invited to dance. But we often treat them similarly. For instance, we may wonder why an alumni event (either in-person or virtual) doesn’t draw as many people as we had hoped. “They were invited to the event,” we grouse. Or, we might question why…
It’s easy to wait for direction. It’s easy to stay quiet. It’s easy to receive the gift. It’s easy to avoid responsibility. Much harder, it seems, to go on the record. To offer something of value – a solution, a strategy, a proposal, or an approach. To be proactive. To show initiative. Because in that…
In the U.S. yesterday Thanksgiving was celebrated. Most people paused the routines of regular life to reflect on their good fortunes, to express appreciation and show gratitude, and generally, to give thanks. Now what? For most, it’s back to routines. Or, for others, it’s on to Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping…
With the 2021 Summer Olympics concluded, here are 5 lessons the Games can teach (or remind) advancement leaders: The Outcome May Be A Story, But Not The Only Story– On Saturday, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s marathon in dominant fashion, making him the second oldest winner and only the third to win multiple gold…
It takes birds – depending on species, materials used, construction type, etc. – between 2 days and 2 weeks to construct a nest. Most people, though, don’t pay much attention to the nest building process. Instead, we walk by a tree in our yard or in the park and are surprised when we find a…