Social Media WIN – Authenticity in Action
Feb 7, 2012 Weblog
In an earlier post I outlined an example of a social media failure. In that example I related how I was contacted by somebody that wanted to add me to their professional network. After some brief exchanges with them it was clear that their request was not to make a meaningful connection, rather they were simply interested in growing their network “number.” Following this experience I thought it only fair to give equal attention to an example of a social media success story.
A few years ago I was contacted through LinkedIn by Rhett Wilson. We had never met, but our professional networks shared a few connections. Rhett and I shared other similarities, namely our professional path and age. Instead of simply requesting to be connected on LinkedIn, Rhett and I discussed first connecting via phone to share our work experiences and to talk through topics related to our shared work and age demographic. Following our first phone call we agreed to stay connected both on and off LinkedIn. Over the past couple of years, we’ve also had the opportunity to meet in person a couple of times.
It has proven to be highly valuable to have a professional contact outside of my regional network. Rhett has been able to give me critical unbiased third-party perspective on challenges and opportunities related to the profession. I hope I have been able to serve a similar purpose and prove to be an asset in Rhett’s professional network.
This experience reinforces insights and recommendations outlined in a recent CNN Money article, The Real Way to Build a Social Network. I highly recommend this article for those looking to expand their professional network in an authentic way.
Tags: communication, LinkedIn, networking, professional development, social media, WIN
Thank You Montreal
Oct 15, 2011 Weblog
I had the great opportunity to attend the AFP Leadership Academy this year. AFP conferences are always a great opportunity to network with fundraising peers across the world, catch up with friends I haven’t seen in a while, and take in some continuing education. In addition to the professional development opportunities, AFP conferences are give me a chance to see new sights, try new things, and interact with new cultures.
Part of what helps fundraisers be effective at their job is the ability to identify and empathize with donors. Toward this end I always appreciate the opportunity for new life experiences… trying new foods, testing out new hobbies, or immersing myself in a new culture. In Montreal I was able to attend a hockey game. It was quite an experience. Now I can watch a hockey game and actually know what’s going on. I’m also better able to keep my eyes on the puck. Both are skills I didn’t have prior to this conference. For those that have never been to a hockey game, here is a time-lapsed video I filmed of the Montreal Canadiens pre-game warm-up. ENJOY!
Tags: #afpmeet, AFP, culture, networking, professional development
Social Media FAIL and the Importance of Authenticity
Aug 12, 2011 Weblog
Not long ago a message appeared in my e-mail inbox:
SENDER:
LinkedIn suggests we may know each other. Must be because of the mutual relationships. Would be glad to invite you to Link In if useful to you.
Intrigued, I searched the sender’s name and discovered that we did indeed have a few connections in common. I should note, have a personal policy of restricting my social networks to people I know personally. Normally I would have ignored the unsolicited message, but because our common connections are individuals I respect and count as some of my most trusted colleagues, I responded and tried to build rapport.
BEN:
Thanks for your note. I don’t believe we have met, so it must be a result of the friends we have in common. I’m pretty close to. How do you know them?
Oddly this was the response I got:
SENDER:
If you saw my profile on LinkedIn, and it’s not useful to you …. for me to have reached out, we can just drop it.
Happily, I’ll do just that, but first let’s consider what can be learned from this exchange.
Tags: communication, FAIL, LinkedIn, networking, professional development, social media
2011 AFP NC Philanthropy Conference
Aug 8, 2011 Weblog
It’s my pleasure to have been invited to present at the 7th Annual AFP NC Philanthropy Conference in Durham, NC on August 11, 2011.
My session, International Perspectives to Inform Our Best Practices, explores the context for philanthropy and charity for international cultures such as those in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
By understanding these unique cultural perspectives, fundraisers are able to incorporate a diverse approach to their fund development efforts stateside. This should result in improved donor interaction, regardless of target donor demographics.
For your reference I am happy to provide a copy of the presentation handouts (PDF) referenced during my session at 3:15 p.m. on August 11, 2011. The session is located in the Crown Room of the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, NC.
Tags: #afpmeet, AFP, best practice, case study, conference, cross-cultural, culture, fundraising, international, linkage, mission, NC, philanthropy, relationship-based fundraising, stewardship, sustainable
Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing – Breathing New Life into Planned Giving [Book Review]
Aug 1, 2011 Weblog
If you’re like me, the term “planned gift” immediately conjures up visions of accountants, lawyers, and financial planners gathered around a large table stacked to the ceiling with superfluous paperwork situated in a musty building not far from a nursing home.
Morbid? Yes. Accurate? No.
Enter Michael Rosen’s book… a resource I wish existed several years ago when I was studying for the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) exam. At the time, Planned Giving Simplified: The Gift, The Giver, and the Gift Planner (AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) was among the best book on the market (it’s still a great survey on the topic). Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing: (AFP Fund Development Series) picks up where Robert Sharpe’s book leaves off, but brushes off the perceived complexity of planned giving and challenged my stereotype of the topic. I’ve found it to be a welcomed resource on my bookshelf and I’m sure you will as well.
If you’re a donor considering Rosen’s book to help inform your own philanthropy I would also like to recommend an essay on endowments located in volume five of ESSAYS ON ECONOMICS AND SOCIETY 2 VOL SET (4 & 5) (Collected Works of John Stuart Mill). I believe you’ll find this will challenge your perspective on perpetual gifts. Conversely, I would also like to recommend the chapter titled “The Best Fields for Philanthropy” found in Andrew Carnegie’s The Gospel of Wealth Essays and Other Writings (Penguin Classics).
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Tags: book review, cultivation, donor-centered, fundraising, philanthropy, planned giving, relationship-based fundraising, transformational