Yes, strategic planning is fodder for many a jokester. And many for-profits as well as nonprofits are less than enamored of or effective at doing it. But solid planning is essential. It reunites the dream with the possibilities. The alternative is the flowchart joke: “and then a miracle happens.” Read More
Some months ago, we were asked to lead a day-long seminar for a group of philanthropic leaders. We decided to ask them to complete a Fundraising and You survey beforehand, as a “pulse check” on their experience, attitudes and issues. The results were quite illuminating. Read More
What has your experience been with women’s philanthropy? One thing that I can say for sure is that women have always been generous with their time but have become increasingly involved in the money aspects of philanthropy, as their economic clout and financial sophistication have grown. Read More
For quite some time, a main Getting to Giving theme was that fundraising has to be viewed – and done – with a “whole system perspective.” We constructed a whole “how to” section of processes, to illustrate and expand on that notion. While we ultimately decided to spotlight the four questions, we remain adamant about the importance of taking a whole system approach. Read More
It has been gratifying to learn that many people find Getting to Giving’s messages – especially its donor perspective and the four questions – useful for thinking about philanthropy and fundraising. That said, there has been some push-back too. Some people say: That’s all fine for huge development efforts, but how does it apply to my small, local fundraising needs? Read More
Here’s a scenario I often – and painfully – find myself part of, as a board member. Development staff, eager to find new prospects, appears at a meeting to “pick our brains.” The inevitable result: a list of the usual suspects. Or they proudly appear with a list of rich people. It’s not hard to find rich people; the trick is finding the right people. Who are natural allies? What are their board involvements, their giving histories, their financial circumstances, even their personal interests? That information is available, with some work. Read More
I was talking with a colleague recently, about fundraising. We shared a few jokes we’d heard, like “performing cashectomies” and “extracting cash without anesthesia.” But mostly we talked – with pride – about what was being accomplished through the funds we had raised, and the many opportunities still out there. We also commiserated about the over-simplification of fundraising by many fundraisers. Read More
One of my main calls to action when I was leading Harvard Business School’s Capital Campaign was: “Aim high.” Early research had shown that HBS alumni’s capacity for giving – relative to their financial means, and their giving to other nonprofit organizations – was vastly untapped. But – and here’s the important caveat – we knew that we had to be realistic. HBS alumni, with the encouragement of the School, were very active in the philanthropic community. Being their top priority was highly unlikely; getting to number 3 or 4 on their giving list would be the strategy. By the end of the campaign, targets for significant gifts, alumni participation, and the overall campaign goal had been met and exceeded. Read More
I counted. I received 85 mail solicitations in 40 days. Six were from the same organization. Some I had already sent a check to, but they asked again, within days. I did write checks for about ten new requests, but not with anything remotely resembling a significant gift. I guessed that most organizations had spent at least $500 on their respective mail campaigns. Money well spent? I wondered. Read More
One of my least favorite images of fundraisers is that of the Lone Ranger, swooping in on his horse to heroically seize the day. But, hey, what about Tonto? Fundraising is not just the person who makes the ask, whoever that may be. It requires a team of people with special talents, united by a common purpose, and recognized and appreciated for their contributions. It might be nice if it was easier, but it’s not. And, in fact, being part of a collaborative team is one of my favorite things about fundraising. Read More
