A lot has changed in the last 20+ years in fundraising. I remember (fondly) performing Feasibility Studies prior to the launch of a capital campaign — essentially to solidify 3 main areas: Is the case cogent and compelling (and ultimately worthy of support)? I remember working for a charity in Kitchener-Waterloo and we tested...
Continue reading...November 2017
NO “I” in Team…but there is an “M” and an “E”
So much of what impacts a fundraiser’s success is predicated on having the right people around him/her, I have found that fundraising is much more of a team sport than I would have ever imagined. What about the “M” and “E” in “TEAM“? Look in the mirror. Do you fit in with the organization’s culture? Do you fit...
Continue reading...Investment Policies — a great tool
Policies may seem like a dry topic to some, so if you believe this to be dry, pour yourself a good single malt and read on! Investment policies go hand-in-hand with Gift acceptance policies. Both are needed for any mature organization to thrive. You certainly don’t want to be creating the policies as you...
Continue reading...Managing Expectations — it’s harder than it seems
If someone were to ask me what my biggest challenge is in my professional life, I would have to say, hands down, that it is managing expectations. Whether it is my own, the donors’ or the board’s. Sometimes, folks seem to think that there is a magic money tree and that if the professional...
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