Have you ever asked yourself, “What would I do if I could not fail?” I find that question incredibly inspiring. The question has led me to: Write a book (three, actually) Give keynote speeches Run 5K races Build successful businesses Don’t think incrementally -- think BIG! What have you got to lose? Think BIG, but Also Think … [Read more...]
Time for a Nonprofit Leadership Retreat? Lead With SWOT
Is it time for your nonprofit's leadership to have a retreat? Ideally, you ought to have a leadership retreat annually. The team at Capital Campaign Pro is preparing for a three-day retreat in NYC. For several weeks leading up to the retreat, we wrestled with how it should be structured, who should facilitate, and more. We started with … [Read more...]
Building a Winning Fundraising Team
Fundraising is a team sport. Whether you win, raising lots of money for your cause, or lose depends a lot on who's on your team and how well you play together. Creating a Winning Fundraising Team Do you have a winning fundraising team? Consider your teammates and their skills. Your Executive Director Do you have an executive director … [Read more...]
The Power of One Hour for Fundraisers and Nonprofit Leaders
Recently I spent one hour with my speaking coach. A power-hour. I'm working on some new speaking topics and keynote talks scheduled for later this spring and summer, and I want to make sure I am as prepared as possible. I hadn’t done my homework in advance of our meeting, so I nearly canceled. And that would have been a HUGE mistake. We … [Read more...]
The Future of Fundraising: Should You Be Concerned or Optimistic?
An upcoming speaking engagement has gotten me thinking about the future of fundraising. I’m guessing you’re thinking about it too. If you're paying attention to statistics on giving trends, you’re probably discouraged. The number of donors, dollars, and donor retention rates have trended down every year for nearly a decade. Reasons to … [Read more...]
AFP International Conference 2024: Campaign Takeaways
Were you in Toronto last week for the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference? If not, don’t worry. As in years past, you can buy the recording to every session through the AFP website. As has been the case for over a decade, I had the good fortune to present this past week -- this time, my focus was on preparing … [Read more...]
As a Woman Leader, You Must Learn to Promote Yourself
Many women are uncomfortable with the idea of marketing or promoting themselves. But if you want to stand out, get ahead, or lead your organization to greatness, it’s important to become comfortable with self-promotion. This is not the sleazy or slick marketing of the old days. Promoting yourself should be helpful, collegial, and kind. Most … [Read more...]
Leadership Lessons Learned as a Woman Consultant and Business Owner
As I look toward the next decade of consulting, nonprofit leadership, and business growth, I’ve been reflecting on lessons learned and what comes next after nearly 30 years of in business and nonprofit leadership. In the coming years, I hope to focus this blog more towards mentoring the next generation of women leaders in business and the … [Read more...]
The Book that Changed My Professional Life Like No Other
Can you point to ONE thing (a book, a person, a workshop, etc.) that made you better at your job, or even a better person? Although there are many wonderful fundraising books available these days, my all time favorite book, one that changed the way I work, is The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. NOTE: I'm not receiving any … [Read more...]
Above All, Raising Major Gifts Requires Deadlines and Accountability
Setting goals and meeting them is important -- especially when it comes to major gift fundraising. In fact, I'd argue that it's impossible to raise major gifts well if you don't: Set deadlines Keep yourself accountable Why Accountability Matters -- for ANY Goal In early January, I shared some of my New Year’s Resolutions with my … [Read more...]
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