development and fundraising

Short Cuts, Cheats and Tricks to Nonprofit Mgmt. & Fundraising

February 26, 2013
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Forget it, there are none. Caught you looking, though, and can’t blame you one bit. This is really hard work, and there is simply no substitute for clear goals, strong planning, a realistic timeline, transparent reporting and all hands on deck. If you truly want a short list of things to do to assure the [...]

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Silver Bullets Kill Werewolves; Don’t Raise Money

February 20, 2013
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Time after time I hear the same big wish when I talk to nonprofit boards, their search for the ‘silver bullet solution’. It seems many are convinced that by finding a development director that ‘has a big rolodex’ their fundraising issues will be solved. As with murder defense strategies, the SEDI* approach to asking for [...]

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It Is All About the Experience

November 6, 2012
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Think about it: what do you simply hate to do? File receipts, go to the DMV, sit in voicemail, press 4 now hell? Each of us has something we have to do that is pure misery. Sure, we could choose not to do some of this stuff, but we might not drive, never get to [...]

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How Does a Non-Profit Gain Traction? Part 4

October 18, 2012
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This is the fourth of 5 posts that deal with the kind of “hand waving” response you often get from people who have never actually run a non-profit. Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Answer No.4 Start doing things like a “Signature campaign” for your cause. Get people to sign their support(don’t ask [...]

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Running Your Nonprofit As A Pageant Winner

October 9, 2012
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Watching the opening scenes of a beauty pageant is my favorite, because of the way the women wave as they strut by. Despite their gorgeous, toned and mostly naked bodies with huge eyes and huge hair perched on huge heels, all I can see is the handwaving. Invariably it appears contrived and forced, but as [...]

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Stop Selling!!!!! A Short Note from a Potential Donor

July 24, 2012
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You have my attention; I am looking at you and listening to you. You have made enough of a dent in my consciousness about your cause that I am curious to know more, and maybe, even, help out in some way. That is what you want, right? Cindy speaks… Yes, as a nonprofit leader, board [...]

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Philanthropic Interview with Cindy Lauren

July 12, 2012
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Something a little different today! I was recently interviewed for Pepperdine’s Graduate Program in Social Entrepreneurship about how I personally felt about philanthropy. It was a very interesting process, the interview covers a wide range of topics from the current state of philanthropy to where I think it is headed – see if you agree. [...]

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It’s Only 100 Words

June 22, 2012
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My Friday morning seminar had just cancelled when the phone rang, “ Help!” One of my clients had a grant due and was struggling with some writing as part of a grant. Erin is a most fantastic woman, teaching special needs kids to swim and coaching a master’s program. She is universally adored by her [...]

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But the House Lights ARE Down

June 14, 2012
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I just read one of those blogs that makes me want to stab myself in the eye, I was truly suckered. The article was a tease; comparing a well-planned and organized event to one that was poorly planned, had no ‘customer service’ elements, signage or follow up. Which one do you think the attendees enjoyed [...]

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OK, You Got The Donation! Now What?

March 16, 2012
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One thing that continues to shock me is the lack of basic preparation of many nonprofit leaders that hobbles many small-and medium-sized organizations. Sometimes really fundamental stuff, such as sending out thank you acknowledgments for donations received are simply not done. Further, other activities that could go a long way towards increasing the amount and [...]

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