Executive Issues

How to Tell If It’s Time to Hire an Executive Director
May 25, 2017 at 9:47 am

Your nonprofit has served its mission statement well. So well in fact, that the directory of volunteers has grown from a half-page to just over three pages. Since those first meetings in a living room more than a decade ago, the nonprofit now has a conference room in a rented office. No more garage storage…

3 Things to Consider When Fundraising Is No Longer ‘Fun’
May 25, 2017 at 9:25 am

Have you had a day when you just felt like there had to be a better career to pursue than fundraising? I know I have. Fortunately, those days have been far outnumbered by those days when I feel honored to do the work I do...

Don’t Shortchange Your Philanthropic Potential
May 24, 2017 at 7:43 am

Build a culture of philanthropy. Challenge your board and staff to embrace a donor-focused, relational approach. Invest in your board and staff and build a development program that is built to last—through leadership transitions and that grows stronger and stronger with the success and capacity-building of each campaign...

Direct Marketing Fundraising Lies in the Art of Friendship
May 23, 2017 at 10:33 am

The fundamental building block for fundraising is relationships. This is true for major gift officers who sit across from donors to share a meal or a conversation. It is also true for direct response professionals who must skillfully identify the right stories and images to illustrate an organization’s mission to donors who may never witness first-hand the difference their contribution makes...

Turnover, Retirements Factor in Big Changes in Nonprofit Compensation
May 22, 2017 at 10:00 am

The median pay for the top paid nonprofit CEOs didn't change much in 2015, the most recent year for which data is available. That doesn't mean things stayed the same for individuals. According to an analysis of data collected by Crain, turnover and impending retirements among the top paid nonprofit CEOs were a leading factor…

An Over-Saturated Charitable Experience
May 22, 2017 at 9:55 am

In a previous blog post, I briefly examined what appears to be a growing sentiment in the nonprofit industry that direct mail fundraising is somehow flawed. Fundraisers have been slow to abandon outdated business practices or to evolve quick enough to react to the mounting challenges facing nonprofits today—and yes, there are many that we must overcome...

It’s Time to Let Those Donors Go
May 22, 2017 at 9:43 am

Letting go… It’s not always easy, is it? Anyone who has had to take their child to college or end a relationship knows saying goodbye is never easy. It’s also not easy for you as a major gift officer (MGO) when a donor, who you have been stewarding and cultivating over time, no longer meets the criteria as a major donor...

When Is the Best Time to Ask for a Monthly Gift?
May 22, 2017 at 9:40 am

When fundraisers ask me this, the answer is: no better time like the present! And, you should be asking all the time! The more you ask, the more monthly donors you’ll generate...

#NPPTrendingNow Ep. 2: Are Nonprofits Hypocritical?
May 19, 2017 at 10:49 am

Welcome back to #TrendingNow. This week, our readers were interested in some executive issues addressed by some of our top bloggers: Howard Levy, F. Duke Haddad and Jeff Jowdy...