How to Successfully End a Prospect Meeting
“The meeting just dragged on and on. I just couldn’t bring it to a close. Later, I realized that I had been talking with them for almost two hours. I hope they weren’t as bored as I was.” All of us at one time or another have had a prospect meeting that lasted forever. TheRead More How to Successfully End a Prospect Meeting
The Power of “For”
I was at an educational session recently where the topic was nonprofit financing. It was a robust discussion about the use of capital, creation of endowments, financing growth, etc. The primary focus of the speaker was on the area of “growth capital” and the idea that, perhaps, too much of the equity in the nonprofitRead More The Power of “For”
A Tale of Two Gifts and Taxes
Gifts and taxes. Around this time last year, two of our clients were working with donors planning to make $1 million+ gifts, as the news media were ballyhooing the ‘fiscal cliff’ fast approaching and many proposals were flying around to adjust the charitable deduction. One donor chose to make his first pledge payment in December,Read More A Tale of Two Gifts and Taxes
Instagram for Nonprofit Marketing
Humans are predominately visual creatures. From birth, we are hard-wired to be attracted to the most visually-stimulating images in front of us, and it is no different as we grow older. When given the choice, would you read a book filled with colorful and engaging pictures, or page after page of black and white monochromaticRead More Instagram for Nonprofit Marketing
Year-End Gifts: It’s Better to Give than to Receive!
“It’s better to give than to receive.” As we prepare to move into the holiday season, we’re going to hear this quote from the Christian scriptures (Acts 20:35) over and over again. My great-nieces and great-nephews simply hate when they hear me say that as we’re opening our gifts around the Christmas tree! And IRead More Year-End Gifts: It’s Better to Give than to Receive!
A Little Bit About Your Nonprofit Board
There is nothing more important to the health of a nonprofit than a quality Board of Trustees. It is the Board that sets your mission, chooses and provides leadership and provides resources in order to implement the mission. Often times, as consultants, we are asked about Board composition, size, wealth and responsibilities. I try toRead More A Little Bit About Your Nonprofit Board
Confessions of a Raiser’s Edge Geek
I have a confession to make. I am a Raiser’s Edge (RE) geek. Those who know me say they could always see it, but it took me some time to accept. I now embrace my inner geek. The one place in the world where an RE geek feels fully accepted is at the Blackbaud ConferenceRead More Confessions of a Raiser’s Edge Geek
Good or Best…Which is the Enemy?
Good or best . . . which is the enemy? Sometimes a great deal of truth can be found in simple phrases. And, then again, sometimes the truth can be found when the phrases are modified. So, for example, how many times have we heard, “If it’s not broken, don’t mess with it?” Focus onRead More Good or Best…Which is the Enemy?
What Do You Have About Me In Your Database?
I was at a meeting recently when I was approached by a volunteer who asked me a question. The exchange went like this: Volunteer: “What information from your database have you shared with XYZ Org?” Me: “What database?” Volunteer: “The database at the firm.” Me: “We don’t have a database with information about you atRead More What Do You Have About Me In Your Database?
The State of the Arts
“The art of making art – is putting it together, bit by bit.” – Sunday in the Park with George The recently released results of the National Endowment for the Arts’ 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts will confirm something many of us already know – engaging in the arts is simultaneously aRead More The State of the Arts
