I currently serve on the Board of Directors for a small, early-state nonprofit called Volare Youth Leadership. My term of service is expiring in June and the Executive Director asked me to consider extending for another year. I’m in the midst of that inquiry and will have an answer by our June meeting. It’s a responsibility that I do not take lightly.
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7 Keys to Getting donors to Yes
You’ve been after a key donor for two years now. You’ve called more than 50 times and have had over 10 meetings with them, you’ve sent them over 100 emails, you’ve prepared and adapted the proposal several times, sent birthday wishes every year, and have done them a big favor. But the donor still says no. What does that feel like? Obviously, getting donors to Yes is the goal of any fundraiser.
Use the 7 keys for getting donors past “No” and to the “Yes”
Want to Increase Your Creativity? Take a Break
Most fundraisers I talk to wish they had more time for creative thinking. Time to let their minds wander and come up with fresh ways of thinking about their work. Coming up with new ideas can make us better at our jobs. We also know from past experience that creativity is engaging and energising.
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Time and Money–The Vicious Circle
When I have more time, I’ll make more money. When I make more money, I’ll have more time.
Do you see the madness?
Time and money scarcity are among the most pernicious beliefs that afflict leaders today. We tend to get caught up in the limiting belief that there is not enough time and money for everything in life.
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No Dice! Dealing with Rejection.
I have been dealing with a generous dose of rejection lately. It’s as a result of an intention to explore how I might be helpful to nonprofit leaders. This past fall I started reaching out to some folks directly through LinkedIn. While these overtures are harmless, it appears that the “stranger-danger” ethos is alive and well in America. I find this fascinating, and it reminded me of a humorous scene from the 1982 teen cult comedy, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, where the boys are refused service at the local fast food establishment. [Read more…]
Fundraisers: Time is on Your Side. Yes it is!
In 1964 The Rolling Stones declared that: “Time Is On My Side” on a b-side single. Despite this short bit of wisdom that resonated through the pop culture a little over 40 years ago, many of us fail to heed that message. We tend to get caught up in the limiting belief that there is not enough time for everything in life.
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The Power of Asking “Can I Do It?”
Daniel Pink explains how positive self-talk is better than negative self-talk. Doing a fist pump and telling yourself “I am going to rock this donor call” is going to create more success than telling yourself “there is no way I can ask the donor to give that much.”
I am sure this is not too big a surprise.
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3 Ways to Cultivate Work Relationships
As a fundraiser, you are naturally curious and a great listener. You spend time and energy getting to know your donors and thinking about how to cultivate these vital relationships. Furthermore, you are evaluated and rewarded for your ability to create meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers and board members.
This external focus and the busy pace can sometimes make you forget how important it is to cultivate relationships with colleagues. Especially relationships with people in other departments, such as research, communications or finance. And sometimes this is compounded by the fact that these coworkers have different styles and personalities than you.
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Fundraising Success–Belief is Key
I’m fond of Napolean Hill’s expression: “Whatsoever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” It comes back to me time and time again, especially when it seems as if progress is difficult.
I’ll admit that up until recently embracing this axiom was difficult. Then I recently read an excellent book by Claude Bristol entitled The Magic of Believing. It helped me recall several episodes during my life where I held an intention to be, do, have, or accomplish something without being attached to any particular way it manifested.
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Fundraising Enables Freedom
As we celebrated the Independence of the United States of America this past 4th of July, I was reminded just how important fundraising was (and is) in the formation and nourishment of our private, non-profit organizations. Especially in the realm of post-secondary education.
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