Fundraiser Education

I was recently home taking a vacation day from work when I received an email from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The email said that my Indiana Chapter membership was renewed until 2019. I was thanked by the organization that serves 33,000 individual fundraisers in more than 250 chapters throughout North America and worldwide...

We’re barely into the New Year, and I’ve already seen a dramatic drop off in the number of those exercising at the gym. I see this every year. Why? Because there’s desire, but no commitment. You don’t change trajectories for the better with a few days of good intentions. The same is true of nonprofits’ who are looking for better fundraising outcomes in the coming year...

There’s a famous fundraising adage, “You need $1 million to raise $1 million.” Before a fundraiser can secure the coveted seven-figure gift, a nonprofit needs $1 million in annual revenue. Funders and donors require this revenue level because it’s a proxy indicator of the organization’s stability. If an organization can raise $1 million, it likely…

As we’re quickly moving through the New Year, many nonprofits are getting ready to push out—if not already—their newest, brightest and most compelling campaign strategies. Whether it’s direct mail, digital, memberships, etc., it’s imperative for nonprofits to devise a strategic plan for the year, so they have a goal to aim for and achieve those goals...

The nonprofit sector is playing an increasing role, globally, in providing the basic human needs of people. At the same time, there is a concern that the basic human services provided by governments are receding worldwide. This possible dual trend suggests that communities and even nations are becoming more reliant upon the nonprofit sector to provide…

There are plenty of opportunities for older Americans to move into nonprofit careers. Do your homework and talk to many in the field. If you covet relationships, care for others, are mission-oriented and can close gifts, you will thrive in the nonprofit world. Get ready for your encore career adventure...

I believe that if we were to make this effort in an energetic, passionate and sincere manner, we would end up with a more content and productive staff, and donors whose commitment, affection and loyalty to our organizations would elevate our missions to greater heights...

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics are over. As always, the Olympics were full of drama and excitement as athletes sought the “thrill of victory” and to avoid “the agony of defeat.” The gold medal is the ultimate Olympic victory and is also sought and coveted in many other competitions. What does it mean to have a gold medal fundraising program?...

By most standards, 2017 wasn’t a typical year. It was a carryover of perhaps the most memorable and emotionally charged presidential election ever: 2017 wasn’t one isolated event, but rather 12 months of extreme and prolonged emotion; the kind of raw emotion that some believe could influence long-term individual behavior and priorities...

I was invited to speak at the 2018 IEDC Leadership Summit on mindfulness as a professional development topic. Instead of speaking to how to implement mindfulness personally, I took it in a different direction. How can mindfulness, as a leader, help a group accomplish their purpose?...