I've just returned from San Diego from the 2019 Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. It will take a lot of time to process the information, the incredible sessions, the learning and the re-ignition that came out of it. It's an incredible conference. I'd had the opportunity to attend in 2016, which I blogged about here and here. … Continue reading Nonprofit Storytelling Conference 2019 – A Manifesto
Professional Development
What’s In a Name? In Praise of Development
WONDERFUL post today from Amy Eisenstein on Nonprofit Job Titles. Touch of humor and some really good points. We're seeing trends in all sectors that job titles are changing to be a little more fun, a little more descriptive - saw one the other day that was "Chief People Officer" and another one was "Head … Continue reading What’s In a Name? In Praise of Development
The “F” Word & Fundraising
Sat through another meeting where Fundraising was referred to as "the F word" . . . . ha ha ha, giggle giggle, 'cause it's a bad word. I failed. I should have confronted. I should have taken the opportunity to correct, teach, coach. I should have stood on the table and shouted with all the … Continue reading The “F” Word & Fundraising
The Absolutely Foolproof Five-Step Fundraising Plan
Everything anyone needs to know about fundraising can be summed up in a five-step process. Find prospects who are concerned about The Problem your mission exists to solve. Connect with them. Ask them to solve The Problem with their financial support. Thank them - profusely - for doing so. Report back to them - tell … Continue reading The Absolutely Foolproof Five-Step Fundraising Plan
Is Fundraising Sales? (And Does It Matter?)
There are literally 5 versions of this blog in my drafts folder. I keep coming back to it because the question keeps coming up and I keep falling - leaping? - into the conversations. Fundamentally this is a matter of opinion and semantics. I am firmly in the camp that Fundraising is not sales and … Continue reading Is Fundraising Sales? (And Does It Matter?)
Advice to a Young Fundraiser on His 23rd Birthday
The older I get the more grateful I am for the mentors I had when I started fundraising. More and more, I find myself remembering their advice and understanding why we did things the way they did, lo, these many decades ago. Those of us that have been doing this for awhile (remember 3 x … Continue reading Advice to a Young Fundraiser on His 23rd Birthday
What I Learned at #AFPFC 2017
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), of which I am a member and President of the Las Vegas chapter, hosted its annual International Conference on Fundraising this week in San Francisco. It was a long and powerful three days, full of inspiration, great insight and comparing notes with some of the smartest, finest people in … Continue reading What I Learned at #AFPFC 2017
Annual Fund Lab 