Fundraiser Education

When I was growing up in West Virginia, both of my parents had to work to provide for me and my three siblings. We had a very loving family. No one loved Christmas more than my mother. She celebrated Christmas the entire year...

Years ago, when we were crafting our firm’s mission statement, there was a lot of discussion over one word: respect. Our mission statement says that we “partner with respected nonprofit organizations.” Unfortunately, organizations sometimes stray, and honesty and integrity are compromised...

Many of us are working very hard to close the 2018 calendar year on a positive fundraising note. With Christmas coming quickly, many of us are already looking to the next year. If possible, get a little rest between Christmas and the new year. I do not have a crystal ball, but I am very interested in what may happen in 2019. I wonder if we will have a Happy New Year?...

I received an onslaught of emails with subject lines showing a political candidate’s name. It was an invitation to contribute to one of many campaigns during this mid-year election season. "Max out at $2,700 is a solid show of support," claimed some of the pitches I received...

At year-end, we are focused on that last push. December is a critical month. Take a moment to step away from the madness and gain perspective. Fundraising can be especially intimidating and discouraging for leaders of both new and small organizations...

According to CNN, many people take advantage of a provision in the tax code that enables benefactors to donate appreciated stock to charity. It is a win-win situation: charitable organizations get a nice contribution (they usually sell shares immediately), while donors can write off the gift and avoid paying capital gains taxes on the stock gains...

Bill was one of the first people I met when I worked at a local American Red Cross chapter. Now, a decade later, I mention him often when I train nonprofit staff because he taught me an important lesson. Maybe he can help you be successful in your nonprofit career, too...

For many nonprofits, the final quarter of the year—especially November and December—will determine their fundraising success. With the demands of year-end giving and a plethora of events and activities around the holidays, the final weeks of the year will be a blur. But it is time to close your door and do a quick check on these important points...

If you bring up the question of how to measure nonprofit success to several organizational executives, you will probably receive many different answers...