Fundraiser Education

In October 2006, I attended my first International Fundraising Congress, hosted each year in the Netherlands by The Resource Alliance. I'm not even a fundraiser, and the experience changed me.

Fundraising is an ever-challenging, ever-changing endeavor. To rise above the status quo requires more than relying on motivational clichés. So when you hear people in your organization talk about innovative thinking, encourage them to put a little less emphasis on the innovative and little more on the thinking.

Today I want to share what I think is the single most important ingredient for fundraising success. This ingredient can make it or break it. It’s the multiplier effect. It’s the most powerful element in your fundraising program. Every fundraising program has at least one — some have more — but nobody seems to have enough. Some are good. Some are considered good but are in fact not.

You’ve guessed it. I’m talking about The Fundraiser. Yes, you.

Today is an exciting time for us here at the FundRaising Success offices. Our annual Virtual Conference & Expo is finally here, and we have a jam-packed day of engaging, enlightening fundraising sessions with some of the best minds in the industry. Please join us!

This year, the FSV advisors tackled the issues every-sized organization and mission need to know to thrive well into the next decades.

Here are a couple of important things you might not yet know about the FundRaising Success Virtual Conference & Expo ... it's free, it's entirely online, and you can watch it live or on-demand.

People respond to professionals who are energized by their work. Let's show our passion as fundraising professionals to help transform our profession and the world.

Stating the obvious here but running a successful nonprofit is hard work! Here is a new rubric to help you (and me!) do it better — the five Cs of nonprofit success: 1. A compelling cause. 2. Great colleagues. 3. A kicking culture. 4. Fair compensation. 5. Cash.

These are just a few of the issues you'll be able to delve in to when you attend the FREE FundRaising Success Virtual Conference & Expo. And it's all online.

Diana Nyad’s epic 110-mile uncaged swim (video here) from Cuba to Key West was a tremendous achievement. But even more remarkable than setting this record was 64-year-old Nyad’s perseverance in reaching her goal (this was her fifth attempt in 35 years). There’s so much nonprofit communicators like us can learn from her. Here are six vital lessons we can take from her experience …