If you’re going to write a book about likeability, you need to tell people how they can get better at it. And in his book The Likeability Factor, author Tim Sanders does just that. After defining likeability and making a case for its importance, he offers practical tips and exercises for improving your likeability (aka your “L-Factor”). So, why does this matter for fundraisers? Well, when you have the choice, who’s calls or texts do … [Read more...] about The Likeability Factor by Tim Sanders – Friendliness
major gifts
Campaign Readiness – Leadership
Campaigns are not "business as usual." Far from it. Your campaign is a once-in-a-decade, perhaps a once-in-a-generation, opportunity for your organization. So, don't sell yourself short. Instead, make sure you're prepared to seize the moment. How? Good planning—lining up everything you need on the front end. Running a successful campaign takes resources and infrastructure above-and-beyond your "business as usual" fundraising … [Read more...] about Campaign Readiness – Leadership
Do you need a feasibility study?
So, do you really need to pay a consulting firm big bucks to run a feasibility study for you? … [Read more...] about Do you need a feasibility study?
Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount
Yes, Fanatical Prospecting is a sales book. And, yes, there is some debate within the non-profit space about whether fundraising shops should try to function like for-profit sales operations. I'm not really interested in that debate—not today anyway. The disciplines are similar enough. And we're smart people. Smart people are always able to take principles, ideas, and frameworks from other fields and use them to inform their own work. So … [Read more...] about Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount
Your Next Campaign: Laying the Foundation
In my last post, I made the case for big, bold fundraising campaigns and why you need to be in one. The main reason, of course, is to maximize your organization's philanthropic potential and do something big to advance your mission. Beyond that, however, a campaign can catalyze other benefits, including increased awareness, new relationships, an elevated culture of philanthropy, and energized stakeholders. So, revisit that post for the … [Read more...] about Your Next Campaign: Laying the Foundation