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Fundraising is not a game

My Facebook feed was full of football talk early this week. I hear the Seahawks/Packers game was a doozy. (And the Patriots/Colts not so much.) I’m not a football fan, so I wasn’t really watching. But obviously, the games are a big deal. People feel like they’re part of their teams. They love the thrill of winning. […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Planning Tagged With: donor relations, fundraising goals, relationship fundraising 7 Comments

Why I want you to fail this year

Why I want you to fail this year No, I don’t want you to have a bad year. But a safe year, with nothing learned? That’s a bad year. Failing can be good! And being afraid to fail? Not so good. An example: I know I need to refresh my website. No, check that. I […]

Filed Under: Blog, Planning Tagged With: failure, fundraising appeals, learning, testing 11 Comments

Here’s to your fresh start

A fresh start… A new year. A fresh start. A chance to take a breath, and see where you are and where you want to be. OK, so we all know about resolutions. (Raise your hand: who’s going to lose weight this year, for sure?) Resolve to improve your fundraising. Pick just a few things and then […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Planning Tagged With: donor care, donor loyalty, new year resolutions Leave a Comment

Let your light shine

It’s the time of year when light is a potent symbol across cultures. My family will celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. You may observe others. Whatever holidays you celebrate, it’s not hard to see why we need them at this time of year. The cold – and oh, the dark! I don’t know about you, but they […]

Filed Under: Blog, Caring for yourself, Fundraising, Planning Tagged With: end of year fundraising, helping, talent 4 Comments

What’s a nonprofit consultant’s job, anyway?

What is a nonprofit consultant’s job? Tony Martignetti began a conversation yesterday with his provocative videocast. In it, he complained that too many consultants don’t do the hands-on work. He felt too many offer only “tip-sheets” and brief recommendations. And that doesn’t help the organization get ahead. I thought it was an interesting conversation. So I’m continuing it here. […]

Filed Under: Blog, Fundraising, Planning Tagged With: nonprofit consulting, nonprofit organizations, role of consultant 12 Comments

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