“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can never live long enough to make them all yourself.” ― G. Marx Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us about our recent column on fundraising and proofreading. We heard from readers in Memphis, New York, and California on this topic. They included donors, volunteers, an executive
Have you considered “front loading” your yearend fundraising? Start now. Plan now. Put your systems in place. Mark your calendar. Build your team. Identify your prospective donors. You may think we’re joking, but we’re not. Imagine you are a private business and the bulk of your sales take place in the last quarter of the
Communication is the name of the game. It’s not just what we say it’s also what we write. How are you communicating using the written word? Do you read your reports, emails, and letters before hitting send? Does the thought of grammar and sentence structure make you roll your eyes and think back to days in
“We wear a lot of hats around here.” This is a common refrain at many small and medium-sized nonprofits. It’s even true amongst larger nonprofits that are under-resourced. Sometimes it’s said with pride. Other times it is followed by a sigh that signals fatigue. We understand both sentiments. If you are one who “wears many
Grant funds are a major source of revenue for many nonprofits. Grant awards are heralded with public fanfare. Gaining – or losing – a grant can have critical implications. Is the grant management process at your organization as proactive as it could be? Consider these two groups of questions as you review your process. Deciding
Sometimes it is necessary for you as a nonprofit leader to personally check how easy or difficult it is to communicate with your organization. When you verify these for yourself you can best assess your nonprofit’s responsiveness. Check the following to ensure you won’t have to make excuses in the future. Call your office during
Have you thought about branding – or rebranding – your nonprofit, college, or even your business? Is branding about a logo or something deeper? Discussions of branding can quickly turn to logos, colors, web updates and a social media presence. Are those your brand, or are they expressions of your brand? We believe they are
Many nonprofit organizations and institutions rely on revenue from special events. If you check any calendar of events you will find many to choose from: 5k and 10k runs and walks; galas with dinner, dancing and awards; concerts; luncheons with nationally recognized speakers. With strong competition for the philanthropic dollar we want to help you
Here’s a stereotype to bust: Philanthropy is about large gifts from the rich and the powerful who give to organizations and institutions that serve those in need. Here’s an expanded definition: philanthropy includes everyday African Americans who give freely of their treasure. So much of African American philanthropy is impactful, but unrecorded. We have a
We recently received a request from a reader wanting to know how to get the most impact from meetings with her supervisor. “Each week, I am given full responsibility for what is discussed. It is the one opportunity where I have my supervisor’s undivided attention and think I should be more strategic in our discussion.”
