I have written numerous times that fundraising is about relationships. And those relationships are usually built on trust. But are charities truly being transparent? Or, are they worried about sharing “too much information”? It fascinates me that so many organizations do not practice transparency — with the outside world or even internally with their...
Continue reading...Leadership
What Does it Take to Be a Great Fundraiser?
The topic this week is a bit of a bone of contention for me. These are my beliefs as to what it takes to be a great fundraiser. Boards and bosses may have a completely different set of qualities. At the end of the day, I have seen many great managers and many great...
Continue reading...UPDATE: Go Find A Great Board Member
Three years ago, I wrote about recruitment for a new board member (here). In the article, I focussed on managing expectations, as Joan Garry so eloquently lays out. Fast forward to Spring 2021 and, while still accurate, the focus on new board recruitment has become so much more. It is so essential to look...
Continue reading...UPDATE: Facts About Stewardship
A few years ago, I wrote an article that listed seven different truths about fundraising (here). The past 14 months have been quite a roller coaster ride for many charities, but I firmly believe that those that have succeeded are those charities that have focussed on stewardship. I address some of these points made...
Continue reading...After 27 Years, I had an “A-ha moment”
Have you ever had that feeling that something just “clicked” for you? Even after decades of working in the same profession? (This goes to reinforce my theory that you should be open to constant learning and improving). Well, this a-ha moment happened to me the other day. As many of you know, I am...
Continue reading...UPDATE: Why Fundraising is Like a Work Out
A little over three years ago, I wrote an article pointing out the similarities between fundraising and working out (here). The premise was that you could work out using full effort for a short while and then take a break. In the end, it will make you much more efficient. Judging by the work-from-home...
Continue reading...Calling out Bad Fundraising
Perhaps it has been the fact that we are into year two of this crazy pandemic. Maybe it is because I have seen many charitable organizations totally botch their fundraising lately. Or, it could even be that I am a fifty-year-old curmudgeon. The fact remains that after decades of being a professional fundraiser, I...
Continue reading...Passover — a Fundraiser’s Perspective
Tomorrow evening (at sunset) will mark the beginning of the Jewish holy day(s) of Passover. I thought that I would change things up a bit and write my blog from a philosophical perspective. The story of Passover is the story of the Jews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt after centuries of slavery and oppression....
Continue reading...What to Track in Fundraising
By now, all organizations should have closed off their 2020 (calendar) year. And what a year it was! I can confidently say that for every organization, there was some degree of uncertainty. There were probably some disappointments but, hopefully, there were also some pleasant surprises. But what should charities start examining when looking back...
Continue reading...UPDATE: Leadership or Management
Last year, before the pandemic was in full swing in North America, I wrote about the notion of Leadership or Management (here). In the article, I described leadership as influencing, motivating, and enabling, while management was described as controlling. So, twelve months later, what, if anything, has changed? So many organizations have spent the...
Continue reading...