Giving is Good
Most all advancement leaders understand the importance of thanking donors when a gift is made. We should be timely, authentic, and consistent in expressing our gratitude after people respond generously in support of our cause. But there are other opportunities we consistently miss to extend our thanks to donors. Here are 3: When a donor…
At least for now: The best: A.I. creates huge efficiencies with rudimentary, but important tasks. A.I. assesses huge amounts of data and provides analysis or theme interpretation. A.I. crafts creative works that can advance important missions and causes. The worst: A.I. behaves like our know-it-all, smooth-talking brother-in-law who responds quickly and confidently to prompts and…
When asked for a prioritized list of professional values held dear, most advancement leaders would likely include, “all donors matter, regardless of gift amount,” somewhere near the top. The concept, of course, is that what may be a token or modest gift for one giver, may be a significant gift for another. For those who…
For members of nonprofit governing boards, it is common for time and attention to stay focused on approving budgets, evaluating CEOs, affirming strategic plans, overseeing financial audits, and engaging in other fiduciary responsibilities. Governing boards are taught that these are the responsibilities that should fill their time and garner their attention. But, the most effective…
At most every beach with vacationers, early mornings mean beach clean-up. As quickly as the sun rises, the activity begins. It doesn’t last long, but it happens every day. Consistently. From tractors sifting the sand to remove litter and trash to the removal of sargassum from the shoreline, the work is to get the beach…
We talk about “the future,” as if its fixed. The future of our advancement program. The future of our institution. The future of our organizational structure. Even, the future of our lives. Perhaps we should talk about, “a future,” instead. A future is neither fixed nor inevitable. A future needs our agency. A future has…
Our future with A.I. is being touted as everything from a life-giving tool that will supercharge human innovation and creativity to a menacing, globally-connected machine that will learn how to master and subdue humanity. At this point, we don’t have a clear view of which path we find ourselves. People holding the more pessimistic view…
No one can predict with complete accuracy who will make the next $1,000+ gift to your institution. But, we can confidently predict that our total number of $1,000+ donors will increase from year to year when we implement a thoughtful plan to specifically invite more people to give at that level. No one can predict…
There are moments when budget cuts are warranted. When enrollment declines become sticky and stubborn, for example. But, cutting expenses is rarely part of a longer-term strategy for institutional success. There are 3 practical reasons for this: Despite all best attempts, budget cuts will impact some aspect of the program or service that delights those…
If we are going to “what if” ourselves into a form of ‘asking paralysis,’ it’s only fair to include the potential positive “what ifs.” The opposite of, “what if I stumble over my words when I ask and they decline to give?” is, “what if a stumble makes me appear more human, strengthens trust, and…