Fundraiser Education

Just because we are experts at fundraising doesn't mean we are great managers or leaders. Yet most of us who excel in our profession end up with management responsibilities—often with less training than we received when tackling our first direct mail appeals, websites or DRTV campaigns.

With all the modern channels to potential donors, learn the myriad of ways you can grow your list and engage new supporters.

The practice of fundraising is constantly changing to take advantage of new technologies, shifts in donors' preferences, lower-cost options, and so much more that affects the way we do business as fundraisers. Each time I teach a course in fundraising, I am reminded of the very thin line between what I can teach from years and years of solid experience—and what I teach based heavily on what I have read, heard and to a lesser degree, done.

What's the kiss of death for every fundraiser? What's the best way to turn your donor off? And what can you do to make sure your donor never, ever wants to see you again? It's when you are guilty of being boring.

If you ask consultants how they became one, their answers cover a spectrum. I find it interesting that many practitioners believe they can easily step from an institutional role to consultant role. What do you think the requirements are to be a good consultant?

One of the (several) things I enjoy about teaching fundraising courses at a couple of universities is the opportunity to explore fundraising with people who have little or no experience in the field. Things I take for granted and view as "just the way things are" suddenly appear in a different light. Students ask, "Why?" and I'm challenged to think back to when I was new in the field and remember the reasons.

NonProfit PRO is pleased to welcome the American Cancer Society's Tarsha Calloway, director of executive engagement and integration, to the NonProfit PRO Leadership Conference. Calloway will join Larry C Johnson, philanthropy coach, speaker, author and founder of The Eight Principles; Richard Rumsey, vice president of development and communications at Project HOPE; Tracy-Elizabeth Clay, senior vice president, legal affairs, general counsel and board secretary of Teach for America; and Paul Bellantone, president and CEO of Promotional Products Association International as a presenter at the conference.

The most important determining factor in your job security, job satisfaction and job success is being on the "same page" as your CEO or president. If you are uncertain if you and your president are on the same page, ask yourself these 10 questions.

As a nonprofit professional, I love to use the titles of some of the Beatles songs as a metaphor for what nonprofit professionals do to promote their profession. These are a sample of 15 Beatles song titles and my translated thoughts.

We all could work in for-profit, and make bigger money and go buy things and experiences that make us happy. Or, we could just work at what we love in the nonprofit sector and be happy.