GivingThree

Philanthropy reflections and fundraising resources for the nonprofit sector

You are here: Home / Archives for strategic planning

strategic planning

Fundraisers’ Toast: Raise Your Glass

By

toastIn 2008, at an event honoring a colleague, I was asked to say a few words to mark the occasion. On a whim I raised my glass and offered up what I referred to as the “Fundraisers’ Toast.”

The goal of the Fundraisers’ Toast is simple… be deliberate about celebrating the achievements of professional peers. In essence, build relationships internally, not just externally. What better excuse to do so but to raise a glass and recognize others working hard to facilitate philanthropy.

Building Relationships

When asked what I do for a living, I simply reply “I’m a fundraiser.” I’ve found it prompts their further inquiry… to which I say, fundraising is not about asking for money. It is about building relationships with people who have a passion for helping others and engaging them to invest in changing lives through their own gifts of time, talent, and treasure.

Fundraisers spend a lot of time out of the office to build these relationships. This is good.

However, for long-term success, it is also important to spend time within the organization. As you build relationships with donors, remember to do the same with volunteers, interns, program managers, leadership, and your peers. This simple act will help you learn the mission of your organization and make living it effortless. [Read more…] about Fundraisers’ Toast: Raise Your Glass

Now Hiring: AFP Director of Annual Giving

By

AFP Foundation for PhilanthropyOccasionally, folks send me job descriptions to seek assistance in finding an ideal candidate. A few days ago, Suzan Weihofen from the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy, sent the following listing for the AFP Director of Annual Giving. Considering this is a fundraising position associated with a fundraising member organization, this is guaranteed as a very unique opportunity.

To Apply:

Send cover letter, resume and salary requirements by e-mail to employment@afpnet.org with the job number of CL102 and job title of Director of Annual Giving in the email subject line (example: CL102 Director of Annual Giving). According to AFP, please do not contact the organization with questions about this position, because of the high volume of resumes received will make it impossible to respond to inquiries about the status of a resume or search. You may also find more information on the AFP Career Center – Job Search Website.

Thoughts on Future and Current Board Members

By

According to the old adage, “you are what you eat.” I believe that the same holds true for what we read.

When ever I am asked to serve on a search committee or take part in interview sessions with job candidates I often include a question about reading habits, preferences, or guilty pleasures. Sometimes I ask if they have a favorite author or magazine, what book they most recently finished or what is on their nightstand. There really is no right or wrong answer. What their answer does is tell a lot about who they are and what they value.

I believe that nonprofit organizations should be selective in who they tap for board service and make the process competitive. To this end I strongly believe that nonprofits should interview potential board members.

While interviewing candidates for board service, try including a question that seeks to gain insight on what they have read or are reading with regards to board service, governance, fundraising, or volunteerism. A conversation of this nature may illuminate gaps in understanding or it may uncover a potential resource for the organization’s current board members.

If the former is true, it may prompt you to make reading recommendations for the potential board member to seek out before being considered for board service placement. If it is the latter, you may have a new board member than can champion best practice, excellence, ethics, governance, or any number of issues relevant for transforming the culture of your existing board or taking them to the next level.

If you are limited in your ability to add new board members, but want to encourage a culture that seeks out authoritative sources to help inform the board governance role, you may want to consider some other options. Give a board member an article, blog post, or book (either physically, or on loan through an e-reader). Ask them to summarize the text at a future meeting. If you are looking for ideas for potential resources try one of the e-book samplers from Wiley/Jossey-Bass:

NTEN 2012 Free e-Book Sampler – Includes chapters from four books on technology and the non-profit sector including – 101 Social Media Tactics for Nonprofits: Melanie Mathos and Chad Norman, Building Nonprofit Capacity: John Brothers and Anne Sherman, Everyone Leads: Paul Schmitz, The Future of Nonprofits: David Neff and Randal Moss

AFP 2012 Conference e-Book Sampler – Includes chapters from recent additions to the AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series including – Fundraising and the Next Generation: Emily Davis, A Fundraising Guide for Nonprofit Board Members: Julia Walker, An Executive’s Guide to Fundraising Operations: Christopher Cannon, Breakthrough Nonprofit Branding: Jocelyne Daw and Carol Cone, The Nonprofit Development Companion: Brydon DeWitt, and Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing: Michael Rosen

The Nonprofit Development Companion – Development and Fundraising are NOT Interchangeable [Book Review]

By

The Nonprofit Development Companion: A Workbook for Fundraising Success (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) has a wealth of information which I have recently found helpful in crafting a fundraising plan in light of the all encompassing development plan. This is because this book clearly delineates the differences between “development” and “fundraising.”

While attending a recent Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter meeting, Karla Williams challenged the audience on their title within their respective organizations. By a show of hands it was amazing how many fundraisers held the title of “development officer.” To an outsider, or newcomer to the nonprofit sector, these terms are used interchangeably. However, doing so is a disservice to nonprofit professionals and the sector as a whole. I recommend purchasing this book as an adjunct to the seminal work on fundraising, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (Wiley Desktop Editions), because it completes the context of fundraising within the wider construct of development.

Questioning Diversity in Fundraising

By

I’m currently on vacation so, the past couple days, I’ve been working my way through Cultivating Diversity in Fundraising by Janice Gow Pettey. As I read her book, several questions keep coming to mind. Anybody that really knows me will appreciate that I tend to ask a lot of questions to challenge my own assumptions. This isn’t to say I disagree with my assumptions, rather I think it’s important to be on a continual quest for knowledge and questioning is one of the ways I learn best. With that said…

One of the underlying themes of Janice’s book is that, by bringing diversity to fundraising we will improve donor experience, fundraiser performance, and organizational sustainability.

If this is true, then:

  • Why don’t I see more AFP or CASE conferences, seminars, or webinars discussing best practices of incorporating diversity into a nonprofit’s organizational culture?
  • Why don’t leading charity evaluation tools (e.g. GiveWell or GuideStar) have measures for diversity as it applies to organizational performance, donor experience, or sustainability?
  • Are we demonstrating an ethical dilemma by not seriously considering diversity in our organizational strategic plans?