Mar
08
2019
Does Benchmarking Actually Help?
I fondly remember my time as a fundraising consultant (for churches, of all things) some 20-plus years ago. When I met with the boards, I would...
Mar
01
2019
What to do With In-Memoriam/In Honor Donors
I admit it. I read the obituaries daily. First, I check to see if my name is there. If it isn’t, I go to work. Seriously...
Feb
22
2019
Life Expectancy of Your Staff
The world has changed a lot over the last few decades (duh). The notion of somebody coming to work for an organization, putting in their 30...
Feb
15
2019
Never Ask for Feedback you don’t Want to Hear
So many of us ask people a myriad of questions in the form of feedback, every day without actually realizing the implications. It has become almost...
Feb
08
2019
Using program Staff as Expert Witnesses
I have maintained that fundraising is a team sport — it involves many different people (if done correctly). Your program delivery staff are integral to a...
HR / Leadership
Feb
01
2019
Is Life Insurance a Charitable Thing?
Life Insurance benefits can be a huge revenue boost for a charity. In Canada, there are really two different ways that a charity can treat a...
Jan
25
2019
Database — Friend or Foe?
Databases. It’s a love/hate thing for most people. I have advocated that your database (and the data contained in it) are your organization’s most valuable asset....
Jan
18
2019
Pick up the Phone and MAKE THE CALL
So much has changed in the almost 25-years since I entered this profession. My first campaign had pledge forms filed on index cards and we were...
Jan
11
2019
People Know When the End of the Year is!!!
This is truly a pet peeve of mine. I received no less than 22 emails from various charities (local, national and international) in the last 10...
Nov
30
2018
What is the Olive Cooke tragedy?
In 2015, the world lost Olive Cooke. Being a North American, I had never heard of this lady. She died by suicide, choosing to jump off...