Fundraiser Education

For nonprofits, apologizing is effective when it addresses two quite different situations. First, admit the mistakes you make in your programs; the social service program that delivered mediocre outcomes; the performing arts performance that bombed...

In the nonprofit sector, perception is often reality, and labels can carry a heavy weight. When the board, donors and constituents view your organization as being a “nonprofit,” there can be an inherent bias about how you should operate—with a heavy scrutiny on overhead and fund allocation...

If Bill Gates had an 18th century equivalent, he might look something like Thomas Coram. Like the Microsoft co-founder, Coram was a self-made businessman who turned his life to philanthropy, with a reputation for radical thinking. A portrait of him by his friend, the celebrated painter William Hogarth, shows the buttons of his coat undone,…

I was recently asked to make a presentation at a hospital foundation’s board of directors meeting. The foundation executive director wanted me to speak on how to engage his board members in fundraising. I truly enjoy teaching and speaking to groups, so I was prepared. The secondary benefit for me in meeting with this group was to watch the executive director interact with his board chair and board members and see how the meeting was directed...

I started my fundraising career almost 25 years ago. Like most people during those days, I learned on the job. It was something that I “chose” to be or to do. It was a necessity to keep the organization operating. Back in those days, one did not have access to such detailed and informative training. In fact, we didn’t even have databases; we still used index cards...

"I ran around my house with joy and danced with our twin babies to celebrate (we do a lot of dancing together) the impact that I know that donation will have in the world," says Adam Braun, in a blog post published Tuesday about the moment a $999,999.99 donation from an anonymous bitcoin millionaire hit…

Nonprofit accounting expert Peter Stam has announced his retirement, which will be effective Jan. 31. Gordon Holfelder, currently VP of Accufund, will step up as president of the company. Additionally, Ian Scotland has been named VP and general manager...

For thousands of us in the nonprofit profession, a goal of self-improvement is a must. The complex nature of the profession implores the need for constant examination and re-examination of one’s skills and abilities. There is a foundation for which that everyone must have if they are to succeed in this profession...

To the uninitiated, phubbing is the act of snubbing people in favor of your cell phone. The practice has become so widespread, you may not even notice it. We've all been there: out to eat with friends, instead of conversation or even menu-grazing, people are working their phones. Then there are meetings where employees pull out their mobile phones, slap them on the table and tap out messages, unapologetically multitasking, as the meeting proceeds...

One of the riskiest corners of the cryptocurrency market is shrugging off this year’s price slump. Startups have raised about $450 million in initial coin offerings so far this month, the most since October, according to Coinist, which compiles cryptocurrency market data. ICOs brought in $3.8 billion in 2017, beating venture capital funding. No Slump…