Accountability

5 Nonprofit Lessons Learned From Breaking My Ankle
December 9, 2015 at 10:06 am

I was walking down stairs, thinking of a project and carrying three different large items. Then, I slipped and tumbled. Stupidly, I still flew to a board retreat the next day, then drove 10 hours to present a campaign study report a few days later. All of that walking did not help what was diagnosed as a broken ankle. Then there was surgery to install a plate, and now I’m paying for not addressing a situation by having a slower and more painful recovery. Here are my five big lessons learned...

What Should Nonprofits Do in the Wake of Obama’s Speech?
December 8, 2015 at 10:06 am

President Barack Obama’s speech to the nation Sunday night was only his third from the Oval Office. The need was there to use everything at hand, including any impressive props he could access, to be heard through the din of terror mongering by elected officials and candidates alike. It’s no longer exactly a stretch to feel…

What Happens When You Show Love and Loyalty to a Donor?
December 7, 2015 at 10:53 am

Fran was a major gifts officer (MGO) who had great relationships with his donors. Then, in October 2008, a disaster struck for a donor he greatly respected that left the donor unable to make his usual gift. Many MGOs might have given up on this donor and moved on. But Fran was adamant about not giving up this donor. In fact, Fran did the opposite...

'Food for Fines:' In Some Cities, Parking Tickets Drive Holiday Giving
December 7, 2015 at 9:59 am

Parking fines aren't usually the stuff of holiday cheer. But a few cities around the country are turning them into an opportunity to promote giving, letting drivers cover part or all of their fines with food donations. Lexington, Ky., first adopted the program, called "Food for Fines," during the 2014 holiday season. There, 10 cans…

Failed or Not, Trump's 'Donate or No Debate' Demands Raise Ethics Concerns
December 7, 2015 at 6:30 am

Last Monday, at a rally in Georgia, Donald Trump took the stage in front of the "Make America Great Again" faithful and threatened a familiar boycott. “How about I tell CNN that I’m not gonna do the next debate?” Trump said, according to USA Today. “I won’t do the debate unless they pay me $5 million, all of which money goes to the Wounded Warriors or to vets." How would CNN respond?...

The Four-Quarter Career View
December 4, 2015 at 10:29 am

You can easily think of a long career in the fundraising profession in terms of time, growth and opportunity. To have a career in this field you must have an interest in attributes that point you in a career direction. A long career may consist of 10 positions or more. My four-quarter career theory focuses on four major career stages...

For Fundraising Success in 2016, Ask the Right Questions
December 3, 2015 at 10:38 am

One of the first things a fundraiser learns is that he or she doesn’t have all the answers. We rely on testing, experience, data and, sometimes, our guts to help us make decisions about how and when to invest our fundraising dollars. However, I’ve found that in the busyness of our work, we don’t always ask the right questions...

Being Certain About Uncertainty
December 3, 2015 at 10:29 am

Diane is the executive director of a medium-sized nonprofit in the Southwest. In her projections for next year, she has inked in moderate bumps in her fundraising goals. Seems like that’s insufficient for her finance committee. The members of her committee want absolute certainty on the 2016 numbers. You read it right, absolute certainty...

With Outpouring, Nonprofit Reaches Goal of Wreaths for Arlington Cemetery
December 3, 2015 at 9:43 am

One day after Wreaths Across America told WTOP it still needed 8,000 wreaths to be able to afford putting one on each headstone at Arlington National Cemetery, the nonprofit has reached its goal. “We are very humbled by the response from so many and in such a short amount of time,” said organization chairman Wayne…

The 3-Word Formula Guaranteed to Raise Money
December 2, 2015 at 10:15 am

I consider these three words the holy trinity of fundraising success. They are simple. They are easy to remember. They really work. Plus, if you wrap them up with some emotional color, you’ve got an offer that can’t be refused. Let’s take a look...