Knowing/Not, Assuming/Not, Listening
By: David T. Shufflebarger, Senior Partner We know from the good work done by the Giving USA Foundation that giving tends to correlate most strongly with the stock market, that the market is off to its worst January start since 2008, and that its January performance, known as the ‘January effect,’ often correlates to howRead More Knowing/Not, Assuming/Not, Listening
How to Dissuade a Donor in 5 Easy Steps
By: Heather H. Thornton, Project Manager The holidays tend to bring out my more magnanimous side, and I made a donation to a couple of charities in December. The organizations to which I gave are lesser known, and I chose them based on how the work they are doing resonated with me and my values.Read More How to Dissuade a Donor in 5 Easy Steps
This Was Their Fight Song
By: Elizabeth Smith, Project Coordinator This summer, Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” became the anthem of so many women across the country. The song empowers women to stand up and fight whatever is going on in their lives and to be strong. This summer, I had the honor to fight for something – Sweet Briar College.Read More This Was Their Fight Song
Making Board Membership More Meaningful
By: W. Milton Key, Jr., Partner In case it didn’t make it on your New Year’s resolutions list and you still have an open slot, add this one: make board membership more meaningful by helping them better understand the fundraising part of their role. As fundraising professionals and nonprofit leaders, we are revenue drivers, relatedRead More Making Board Membership More Meaningful
Beyond New Year’s Resolutions
By: Nancy E. Peterman, Partner The first weeks of January have most likely been focused on ensuring that activities such as gift entry and acknowledgment letters are current. Now that the first two weeks of the year are behind us, it is a great time to tackle the following: Evaluate your year-end and holiday operations. Read More Beyond New Year’s Resolutions
Bill Tedesco, Founder, CEO and Managing Partner of Donor Search
Success quote: Pick out five to ten goals that you want to pursue and write them down. Recite them daily and soon you will do it from memory. Best piece of advice ever received: “When you find yourself enjoying something, it is more than likely something you have an aptitude for and you should follow that.” Personal habitRead More Bill Tedesco, Founder, CEO and Managing Partner of Donor Search
Double Check! It’ll Save Your Neck!
By: Katie MacKenzie, Project Coordinator I’ve recently begun working with a client whose campaign reporting figures are…well….how to put it nicely….never accurate. And, I don’t mean a mistake here or there, every campaign update report we receive has multiple errors and each time I receive the report, it takes me quite a bit of timeRead More Double Check! It’ll Save Your Neck!
2016: Invest Anew In Your Fundraising Staff
By: W. Milton Key, Jr., Partner I recently attended a luncheon that featured two generations of a remarkable, humble family that has earned the reputation as a leading philanthropic family in Dallas. The family patriarch stated in his remarks to the audience that the dictionary definition of philanthropy is antiquated, in his opinion. Based onRead More 2016: Invest Anew In Your Fundraising Staff
Del Martin, Founding Partner of Alexander Haas Martin and Partners
Success quote: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand Best piece of advice ever received: “Don’t sell your time. Sell your expertise.” Personal habit that contributes to success: Really listening. Internet resource: Google and Giving USA Book recommendation: Designs for Fund-Raising: Principles, Patterns, Techniques by Harold J. Seymour EssentialRead More Del Martin, Founding Partner of Alexander Haas Martin and Partners
Let’s Get Personal
By: Jerry W. Henry, Partner “As a development director, how do I maintain a personal life in the midst of my hectic schedule?” Yet another development professional asked me the question that I believe many of us struggle to answer in a satisfactory manner. The issue of successfully building the proper work-life balance can beRead More Let’s Get Personal
