Are donors really the problem with fundraising? There is a concept being talked about in some fundraising circles – “donor dominance”. The idea is that some donors behave badly (true enough) and because of that, all donors must be… I’m not really sure. Educated? Chastised? Maybe just taught to understand that while we welcome their […]
So you want to change the world
We all have our causes. Those of us who choose a nonprofit career usually do, at least in part, because we want to help make something better or more beautiful. We’re eager world-changers. And that’s a wonderful thing to be! Change? Here’s what might work… and what probably won’t You have a cause or two […]
8 reasons fundraising events suck. (And why they don’t.)
I haven’t written much about fundraising events. That’s because they’ve usually felt necessary, but not particularly interesting. Let’s be honest: rare are the people who look forward to planning and throwing a gala. Rare are the people energized by finding sponsors. Rare are the people who are great at working with crowds of volunteers. (Rarer […]
The one thing you need to know about fundraising
It’s not about you I’m embarrassed to say it took me years to realize this. I – like you, maybe – was filled with enthusiasm for my organization. That’s good. It’s really hard to do good work when you don’t feel that way. But I let it color my fundraising perspective. This lesson can come […]
Mom tested, donor approved: when to use your inside voice
My youngest just turned sixteen. So I found myself looking through old pictures, remembering a chubby little guy who is now neither. My visit to old times reminded me of inside voices. When each of my kids was little, I tried to explain the difference between inside and outside voices. Outside voices could be […]