If your story isn’t real, how can the funds you raise make a difference? Success is what nonprofits are supposed to project. Increased impact. New audiences, more people served, policies changed… Everything is rosy. But what if it isn’t? What if our “successes” blind us to what isn’t working? We might tell a good story,
Fall is in the air. Time for football, warm sweaters, and the approach of the holidays. For those involved in fundraising it is also time to focus on the year-end campaign. There are direct mail letters to write, holiday events to host, and on-line giving campaigns to launch and manage. There is also the process
As I watched the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on television I was filled with excitement and emotion. I was excited about this historic moment, and what it means for the African American community and the nation. I thought of my great grandfather William Harrison Hammond, an ex-slave
Are you effectively using the resources available to you? Are your programs making an impact? Do you try new ideas? Have you explored the “two-generation” to addressing poverty? Do you understand poverty as a “condition” – similar to a medical condition – that has a standard of care? We recently had the opportunity to learn
After Obama’s election victory in 2008 many of us thought our country had at last turned the corner toward racial equality. Current events have shown how wrong we were. Reaction among African Americans to police shootings of blacks seemed to be all that was needed to ignite understandable resentment to the shootings. But could there
Fear, ego, time and misinformation can keep you from asking for the gifts your organization needs. Don’t make these four mistakes. We are entering the giving season. Many readers will focus on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza and the New Year. Here at FUNdraising Good Times we are focused on giving to nonprofits. Like children who
We know you want to meet your fundraising goals. We also know some readers may be anxious wondering, “how will the calendar year end? Will we be in the red or in the black come December 31st?” While we don’t have a magic wand we do want to suggest two aspects of fundraising management you
An Interview with Kim Moss – Part two of a two part series The board of directors plays a critical role in the life of a nonprofit. While each board is unique, best practices can increase a board’s effectiveness. To learn more we talked with Kim Moss, nonprofit consultant. His leadership helps boards increase their
Part one of a two part series We recently had the opportunity to work with nonprofit consultant Kim Moss. He is a wealth of knowledge with 34 years experience in nonprofit administration. He knows about taking care of business. Yes, nonprofits are all about vision and mission. But, if business practices are not in place,
Part two of a two part series: An interview with Leland Faust What would you do if you were responsible for reviewing financial management policies for your nonprofit? What would you do if asked to vote on a change of investment firms? What questions would you ask? These are issues nonprofits grapple with all the
