Giving is Good
The good advancement professional knows the mission, the project, the initiative for which they are raising funds. The exceptional advancement professional believes in the mission, the project, the initiative for which they are raising funds. Understanding the difference between knowing and believing and embracing why that difference matters is the work of every new advancement…
Earlier this month, our world lost the gifted musician and soulful vocalist, D’Angelo. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 51. If you are not familiar with D’Angelo, he created some of the most soul-stirring, deeply-emotive, grown folks popular music of last 40 years. In 2000, he won a Grammy award for his…
“What makes our institution different or distinctive?” This question dominates most every nonprofit marketing and branding conversation. And, in a world in which competition seemingly continues to escalate – for students, patients, donors, and volunteers – each institution wants to differentiate themselves from the others. We want others to view our brand based on unique…
The first behavior to avoid if we want to get better is assessing blame over what could have been better, over what went wrong. Assessing blame is such a seductive act, though, because it’s easy to point to a co-worker, or a boss, or a partner and identify their shortcomings. How they slighted us. How…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) scares many people. I’m not yet sure whether I am one of them. At this point in its evolution, I don’t believe I am. Here’s why. New technology almost always has a scary aspect to it. Driverless cars? Doctors operating with the assistance of robots? And, don’t forget, that 150 or so…
Not fewer charitable gifts. Not fewer givers or sponsors. Not fewer charitable gift dollars. But, we might be far better off intentionally seeking fewer goals and fewer metrics. What significant difference does it make if the number of sybunts giving again this year is up, when the total number of donors is down? What real…
Being a “donor-centered” advancement professional has never meant that we: consent to all scholarship awarding criteria proposed by the donor; adapt our investment policies because the donor believes another approach is better suited for their gift; accept every gift offered by the donor; treat the donor as a customer and behave as if, “the donor…
For some people, advancement goals feel intimidating. For some people, advancement goals seem punitive. For some people, advancement goals create unfair evaluations. For some people, advancement goals produce anxiety. And, so, some people push back consistently on setting goals for themselves or their teams. But, for others, establishing advancement goals provides an opportunity to narrate…
When will I know enough. . . . . . to meet that donor. . . . to invite that gift. . . . to take that leadership role. . . . to speak up. . . . to have a perspective. The internet is full of “learn more” buttons and click-bait “but, what about”…
When a salesperson sells, the focus is on the transaction and on the separate parties. How much will it cost me? What do you owe me? How will this deal benefit me? But, when a partnership is established or strengthened, the focus is on the benefits of cooperation and the fresh, inspiring future value that…