Dear Fundraiser: Who’s Packing Your Parachute?
I once heard the story of Charles Plumb, a U.S. Navy pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and eventually returned home to the U.S. […]
Is your fundraising like Ford in 1965?
Have you seen Ford v. Ferrari? I recently did. And I’m fascinated by the movie’s story of Ford’s quest to beat Ferrari in competitive racing in the 1960s. Let’s face it, Ford wasn’t at all synonymous with flashy sports cars in that era. They made reliable, sturdy, sensible family cars. They were the farthest from […]
The Grass is Never Greener: Why Your Best Donors Are Already In Your Own Backyard
(Updated post from July 2015) Happy summer, fundraisers! How’s your lawn looking? As we’ve reached the mid-point of the calendar year, it’s a good opportunity to take stock of how things are going – especially as we catch our breath and prepare for the end-of- year blitz. And there’s some good news to celebrate. The […]
Dear Fundraiser: Who’s Packing Your Parachute?
I once heard the story of Charles Plumb, a U.S. Navy pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and eventually returned home to the U.S. […]
2018 Was Another Wild Ride. Can We Unbuckle Our Seatbelts Yet?
It’s hard to believe 2018 will soon be in the rear-view mirror. Doesn’t it seem like yesterday, when we greeted January with the new Tax Bill of 2017 in effect? We all wondered if we’d see more of the fundraising volatility we experienced from late 2016 through 2017. We all wished for a less challenging, […]
Goals, Excuses, & Negative Splits in the End-of-Year Sprint
I started 2018 by setting a number of resolutions around key areas of personal and professional growth. One I set for myself was increasing the frequency of my runs. I’ve written before about running, and the truth is that life and work often get in the way of my training goals. But this goal was […]
First Things First: How To Manage Competing Demands As A Busy Fundraising Professional
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably taken a momentary pause from your full inbox, your double-booked calendar, and your ED or Board who keep coming up with “good ideas” to help your organization fundraise. I get it. I’ve been there. Whether you’re in a big development office or are a one-person shop, each day feels […]
Running Shoes Optional: Doing a Mid-Year Fundraising Check-In
On Memorial Day I ran my first 5k race in eight months, feeling uncertain. I had come away from my previous race last fall feeling confident, after coming close to my personal record by six seconds. In the months since, though, a busy calendar hadn’t allowed me to train in the way I’d like. After […]
Will 2018 be another Fundraising Wild Ride?
How many of us are still recovering from the rollercoaster known as 2017? It was a whiplash year. In early 2017 we saw a flexing of the American philanthropic muscle through an unprecedented surge in “rage donations.” Americans used charitable gifts as a direct response to the November 2016 election and attacks on core American […]