Fundraiser Education

This week, I want to talk about a few things I do know and how these things should impact our fundraising. Again, this isn't an exhaustive list, but rather what I recently have been grappling with.

How are you sharing your stories? Through words, through photographs, through video? Think about the stories that inspire your donors and how you can share them more effectively.

The nonprofit world is rife with educational and networking opportunities. And with our industry growing and changing so much, at such incredible speed, how can one keep up? When planning our events this year, our short list to work around was 36 events. Thirty-six! And those were only the easily identifiable ones from less than a handful of major associations.

Nonprofits should utilize the DMA Nonprofit Federation's Nonprofit Accountability Dashboard. It's a great step in furthering the discussion and truly educating the public on what running an effective nonprofit organization really means. That's what nonprofit leadership is all about.

A big part of life—as we know from our profession—is continually giving and continually learning. Continue to associate with great folks and be part of a cause larger than yourself. Don't make leading or giving a "season of life." Make it a lifelong habit and commitment.

Ted Hart speaks with Linda Lysakowski from CharityChannel Press, international superstar consultant Kay Sprinkel Grace, John Murcott from Crowdster.com, Mark Sutton from FrontStream, Gabe Cohen from GuideStar and Eva Aldridge from CFRE.org on his fifth anniversary Nonprofit Coach radio show.

To address the situation of risk management, Teach For America's Tracy-Elizabeth Clay, senior vice president of legal affairs, general counsel and board secretary of the organization, will present at the inaugural NonProfit PRO Leadership Conference. In her session, Risk Management: Harnessing Risk, Clay will discuss strategic and practical ways to harness risk as a nonprofit leader.

Statistically, more than one-third of all charitable dollars given annually in the United States is directed to religion, and research indicates that faith practitioners are the country's most generous donors.

Here are four fundraising questions I can't answer that have been haunting me lately.

Rich Rumsey, vice president of development and communications at Project HOPE, is all about breaking down silos. Join Rich and your nonprofit colleagues at the NonProfit PRO Leadership Conference May 5 in Washington, D.C.