Fundraiser Education

Several years ago, I was asked to be part of a meeting between a nonprofit and a significant business in the community. At first glance, one would expect that the nonprofit did not have the total resources it needed for success. The business the nonprofit was soliciting had tremendous resources, plus community clout. I was just asked to attend and observe...

I serve on a fraternity foundation board, and we invite donors to fund programs that help college students find causes that they’re passionate about and want to dedicate themselves to working for. This is something that I’m very passionate about…

A few weeks ago, I shared that passion for the cause is a key ingredient in a successful (and honest) fundraising professional’s career. If you’re not passionate about the cause that you’re raising funds for, then you are short-changing both yourself and the organization you work for. I serve on a fraternity foundation board, and […]

Do you have a bucket list? For many years, going to Graceland, the home of the late Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tenn., has been at the top of my bucket list. I spent many hours creating excuses why I could not go on this visit...

Whether you’re a one-person charity or a multinational nonprofit, the question of whether to go “big” or stay “small” is always there. Make the smart choice, and you’ll soar. Guess wrong, and you’ll be stuck in the doldrums—or worse...

From October to December, nonprofits dedicate time and energy to fundraising. They reach out to supporters and ask them to give. They share their impact—what they have done this year and what they will do next year. They share stories from those whose lives have been changed as a result of donations from people just…

Sometimes, a nonprofit’s fundraising seems to go into a death spiral. Revenue isn’t just flat, it’s declining. The interventions attempted don’t work, and “big change” ideas won’t fly. Losses keep piling up no matter what senior management does to stem the bleeding. Firing the entire management team might be the only answer. Understanding why that is true could save your job...

Nonprofit leaders are constantly hearing about how important impact and outcomes are to funders. Articles with titles like, “Study: A Nonprofit’s Impact Is the Most Significant Consideration to Funders,” and “Why Outcomes, Not Output, Is the Key to Nonprofit Sustainability,” are everywhere...

One common problem managers have with major gift officers is how to manage their time. Or maybe I should say how not to manage their time. Some managers believe that the eight-to-five rule for employees actually applies to MGOs...