Giving is Good
All great advancement work is about reminding people. Reminding alumni of the life-directing experiences they had while on campus those many years ago. Reminding former patients of the life-saving care and hope they received when their health was uncertain. Reminding parents of their children’s new and affirming joys when introduced to culture, music, faith, sports,…
Our professional effectiveness, our leadership promise, our influence, even our general well-being can be surmised based on which word of this question we emphasize. For example, if we regularly think (or say), “What can I do?” with a sense of exasperation or a feeling of powerlessness, our outcomes will not be as robust and positive…
Making assumptions can get a bad rap. When we assume the worst, we run the risk of the outcome being self-fulfilled. And when we assume too much, we sometimes overlook the fundamentals, the easy, or the obvious. But making assumptions can be helpful, too. For example, when trying to establish a first-time visit with a…
Take a look at your work-related to-do list for today. Rate each item with a 1, 2, or 3. A rating of”1″ means the item has a direct connection to your annual goals. When you complete these items, you are positively impacting the achievement of your annual goals. A rating of “2” means the item…
As nonprofit leader, its important to keep in mind that advancement is not the same as philanthropy. We can get so focused on raising charitable gifts that we forget the real outcome we seek – namely, to advance the mission of our organization. Engaged volunteers help advance our mission. Aligned sponsors help advance our mission….
I believe our work is to get money from people. Versus, I believe our work is to invite and encourage people to experience the goodness of giving. I believe most people will only do what is in their interests. Versus, I believe most people want to help others. I believe wealthy people are selfish and…
It’s easy to be fooled into believing that effort is the most important variable to our success. If we simply work harder/smarter/more strategically, we will be more successful. The messages are all around us. “There is no substitute for hard work.” “You need to give 110% effort!” “No pain, no gain.” Because of this cultural…
When we think of “being courageous,” we tend to think of the social expressions of courage. From small acts to big, we think being courageous is something that happens in the context of other people. The courage to present to an audience. The courage to jump in an help during a catastrophe. The courage to…
When we decide to hold our annual donor stewardship event on a day that makes travel inconvenient for a significant portion of our donor base, whose needs are we serving? When we arrive late for a standing prospect management meeting and keep the other gift officers and team members waiting, whose needs are we serving?…
We could conduct our outreach to prospective donors via email or phone. We could invite our alumni via direct mail or social media. We could distribute our impact report digitally or hard copy. One option is not necessarily more or less effective than another. In some circumstances, outreaching via email may the wiser than using…