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Ask and You Will Receive–not!
The year-end has just passed and we’re into a new year of fundraising goals and aspirations. If you are like me, you’re on everyone’s list with your Christmas and holiday cards competing for space in...
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Magic Kingdom Fundraising—it works
When I use the words, “magic kingdom” you’re probably thinking of what I am—Disney. That name brings many things to mind—Mickey, Minnie, a world apart. For those of us who have had the opportunity to...
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Donors Buy Feelings—not stuff
In a recent post, Seth Godin makes an observation concerning consumer buying behavior that translates well into the philanthropic arena. Principle 1 of The Eight Principles of Sustainable Fundraising®...
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Belief–and truth
Many of us become our own worst enemies when we begin to believe our own press releases. Nonprofit leaders are no exception. Witness the recent hang-wringing and urgent calls to action regarding...
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The Mythology–of self
We’re passionate, focused, determined to do good and–dead wrong. Huh? Charitable organizations are no different. A noble vision results in worthy actions. Worthy actions bespeak solid reputation....
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Hear, See and Touch–yes touch
Far too often, we rarely give our donors more than a momentary thought—as in when we are waiting for the results of the last mailing to see how much it “brings in.” It’s not necessarily that we’re...
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They’re Just Lucky—we can’t
When working with my clients—charitable organizations who do worthy work in the communities they serve—I often hear some variation on this. “That (other) organization was just lucky in raising money...
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Let’s Fail–again and again
Our charitable organizations have the obligation to fail. That is, to be leaders in innovation. So says Seth Godin. Why? According to Seth, because the work they are doing is far too important to...
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Is It Them—or us?
Nonprofits often decry their lack of resources while trumpeting an ever-growing demand for their services. The conventional wisdom is often that donors simply aren’t caring enough to want to help...
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Trust—the great leveler
Perhaps the most critical resource in engendering philanthropic support for your charity or cause is trust; trust among your investors that you will deliver on both the outcomes you tout and also the...
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Lead with the Personal–follow with the rational
When approaching a perspective donor we are often eager to explain the mission of the organization we are representing the good work and community impact that it has. Full of facts and figures and...
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(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction!
For those of you in my generation—and a lot of those younger than we—these words conjure up iconic images of Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones. To the philanthropists among us, the lyrics of Sir...
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Invest or contribute?—you make the choice
Hardly a day goes by that I am not asked to contribute to someone’s worthy cause. It could be a very personal and individual request as when a bright faced young person rings my doorbell and asks...
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Why Don’t Rich People Give More?—the perennial question
Recently several commentators have opined that the “rich” don’t give “enough” to charity—or to the “right” organizations to insure the “maximum” benefit. Hmmm. Aside from the getting their facts...
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The New, the Powerful-and the fake
Philanthropy, by its very nature, is a personal business. Experienced fundraisers will tell you that the most effective fundraising method-the method which yields the most expansive, renewable...
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