Whats fund development got to do with strategic planning?
Strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising are processes with specific steps.All three used to be performed independently of the other.Today, their integration into a single process is exemplified by the following principles that all…
It’s not over until it’s over…what to do with your strategic plan!
So you ask...now that the planning is over now what do we do with the plan?It is time to package it up!Once the initial goals and objectives are drafted and approved by the planning team and board of directors, the organisation needs to…
Philanthropy is not a multiple choice question for your nonprofit board of directors
So often I have heard this one line uttered..."But I give of my time and that is my gift!"Yes and no.As a Board of Director, you are expected to give of your time. You are a volunteer. You have fiduciary responsibilities that you are…
Identifying new potential donor prospects for fundraising
As a consultant, I get asked this question all the time. How do I find new donors for my fundraising efforts?Well, let me offer a few easy and cost-effective steps that don't require you to purchase or rent costly donor lists for your fund…
Sleigh bells ring…Is your year-end fundraising strategy in place?
A little early you might say but…Not really because if you are not hearing sleigh bells ringing then you might already be behind the eight ball in your development office.Santa is getting his sleigh ready and so should you be.Now is…
A day in a small fundraising shop
Often wonder what it is like to be in a small fundraising shop?Exciting, exhilarating and yet tedious all at the same time.You need to be a generalist rather than a specialist. So your skills need to be broad and you need to know a great…
Do you have a fundraising procedure for handling gifts of securities?
Whether part of an existing gift acceptance policy or a separate written document, your organisation should prepare a written description of the procedures for handling a gift of securities.Where is the organisation's brokerage account?
Who…
Is your fund development diversified?
“Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.” - George R.R. MartinAre you diversified?If you have been a client of mine, you will know that I often talk about the need for diversity in fund development. organisations should not…
The fund development professional as a reflective practitioner
I find myself sitting comfortably at St. Mary's University of Minnesota waiting for the start of my second year Masters program in Philanthropy and Fundraising.I wanted to arrive a day early before everyone else. Unpack, settle in, and get…
The fundraiser as a servant leader
Robert K. Greenleaf coined the term “servant leadership” through an essay that he first published in 1970. According to Greenleaf, “the servant leader is servant first…It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to…
The professionalism of development
It is almost two weeks now until I go away to school to complete my second summer residency for my Masters in Philanthropy and Fundraising.As I reflect back on my career, I am in awe.When I first started in development back in 1994, it was…
Fundraising is part art and science
This week was a very busy week in my world.As I reflect back on it, the biggest "thing" that comes to mind over this past week is the question, "fundraising is it an art or is it science?"I say, it is both.A good fundraiser knows technique,…
