John Lewis and his lessons for nonprofits
If ever there was an example of how to benefit a cause, how to live a mission, John Lewis lived it. As I listened to the tributes at his...
Why business thinking is NOT the answer - Part Two based on Jim Collins monograph Good to Great &
“What percentage of your organization’s income goes to administration?” If you work for a nonprofit, you’ve heard this question. I’ve...
“Why business thinking is NOT the answer,” Part 1, based on Jim Collins’s monograph “Good to Great &
Like you, I’ve been working to help boards understand the difference in running a successful business and leading a successful nonprofit....
The value of thinking long term
If you’re in Development, you probably get a lot of pressure to focus on money. Bring it in NOW. Get the gifts. Make the asks! A board...
Things are going well. Why is that?
With the world so unsettled lately, I’ve been looking at my resume. I’m very goal oriented. Tell me you need $10. I’ll get you $20....
Money may not be the root of all evil
As Development Officers, we think a lot about money. There are goals to be met, programs to fund, salaries to pay. Even when everyone:...
Nonprofits - how should our teams work?
Maybe we’ve been looking at Development wrong. In fact, maybe we’ve been looking at our nonprofit structures wrong. We segmented roles:...
Donor Communication: Formal and Informal - It's the difference in talking to your prospective in
There is a need for formal pieces. They introduce you to an audience you don’t really know yet. I learned a lot about formal pieces as...
Six Building Blocks for Growing Support
Board members are absolutely key. Many grants will ask for a list of your board members. A number of grantors will ask about what...
Whether your event is live or virtual, this one phone call can change the way you view it. It did fo
For my first position as a Director of Development, I was hired by a wonderful organization that had a tradition of hosting multiple...
