That’s How The Pigskin Bounces: Football Season Fundraising
Many of the organizations we work with are colleges and universities, and many of these play intercollegiate football at some level. Several of our current clients are prominent NCAA FBS schools. In fact, 5 of the AP top 10 are current or former clients of Alexander Haas. So what, you ask. I thought this wasRead More That’s How The Pigskin Bounces: Football Season Fundraising
Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility
In September, Sarah Cahan, a senior insights supervisor with Cone Communications’ Research and Insights team, wrote some interesting observations about consumers, companies, charitable causes, and the impact perception gap in the world of CSR. CSR is Corporate Social Responsibility, aka “cause marketing,” where companies and charities partner to create opportunities that allow consumers to feel good,Read More Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility
A Very Bored Board: Managing Expectations
In his post last week, our friend Jim Paglia discussed his experience and work with nonprofit boards. As I reflected on his words of wisdom, I began to review an assessment we recently wrote for a client, and was shocked by some of the findings! Why? Let’s take a look at their board’s statistics:
How to Create a Compelling Case Statement
One billion-dollar campaign at a university printed a book, and cradled it in handmade wooden box… Another produced a glossy, four-color, seventeen-page document on 14x 17 card stock as its case for support… Still another used hand-made paper bolted between copper plates… The collection of case statement materials in our office runs the gamut fromRead More How to Create a Compelling Case Statement
I’m A Volunteer; You Can’t Make Me Do Anything
The headline of this article is an expression I’ve used for over thirty years. Relying on volunteers can lead to misunderstanding, sluggish performance, disappointment, and oftentimes, negative outcomes. Or, volunteers can be the measure that propels a nonprofit organization to its greatest success. In my travels, I meet Executive Directors and CEOs of nonprofits onRead More I’m A Volunteer; You Can’t Make Me Do Anything
Four Factors For A Successful Leadership Annual Giving Program
I recently wrote an article for our TEAM newsletter that outlined the benefits of a well-conceived leadership annual giving program. There are several elements to be considered that will ensure those benefits are realized. This is an important factor in attracting, renewing, and upgrading your donors. Through my experience with our clients and as aRead More Four Factors For A Successful Leadership Annual Giving Program
Great Teachers
Somewhere along the way in school or college most of us have encountered great teachers who made an indelible impression on us. I feel fortunate to have been touched deeply by: A high school physics teacher with the gift of making it a joy to wrestle with complex problems and to learn from failed effortsRead More Great Teachers
2013 Donor Trends
“You know, Jerry, I’ve decided to focus my philanthropic dollars on fewer organizations going forward. I’d prefer giving a larger amount to support two or three organizations rather than giving smaller amounts to numerous groups.” Essentially that was the verbatim comment one organization’s major donor told me recently as I conducted a Campaign Strategy StudyRead More 2013 Donor Trends
Corporate Giving in the Arts
Much buzz has been generated this year about the rising trend in corporate giving and business support. Released earlier this summer, the 2013 Giving USA results brought us news that corporate philanthropy is on the uptick, and the more recent AFTA (Americans for the Arts) survey further supplements those results with the report that businessRead More Corporate Giving in the Arts
What The Heck Is Donor Fatigue?
In recent months we’ve been asked dozens of times by reporters, clients and volunteer leaders about phenomenon of “donor fatigue”. This theory espouses that there are so many fundraising projects underway that donors are stretched to capacity and can no longer support them all. In essence, that donors are “worn out” from too much givingRead More What The Heck Is Donor Fatigue?
