Is your nonprofit board socializing enough?

February 22nd, 2012 · 2 Comments

In the last 24 hours, I’ve heard 6 different commentators talk about the polarization of our US government being exacerbated by the fact that no one socializes anymore.

Ok. I was one of the people. And I was talking to my aunt and uncle in a restaurant in Hanover, NH.

But then on NHPR, I heard a person talking about how our US government was designed to run on compromise. And when people begin to lose the ability to compromise, the government is designed to breakdown. Then later on NHPR, an author was talking about John and Abigail Adams wanting far more from the American Revolution than we got from the war. But they felt it needed to take time. So they were open to compromising on issues and accept some freedoms instead of all freedoms.

And this morning I’m hearing it too. The interesting thing is that when talking about our parties’ inability to compromise most people, myself included, cite Ted Kennedy. He used to go for the throat in debates on the floor and then go out for drinks afterwards with the same people he was attacking. Now people elected to Congress are living in their offices to save money and having their families grow up in their home states rather than be with them in DC. So no more cocktail parties that mix ideologies.

Even the Founding Fathers, had social occasions where they had to interact with people the bitterly opposed.

Is your nonprofit board over politicized?

If socializing is so important for a national government to be effective, how much more so for your nonprofit’s board?

Do you give your board members time to see themselves as people? Here are a few ways you might do that:

  • You could have a board meeting at a board member’s house instead of at your nonprofit

    It’s amazing how a change of venue can strengthen relationships and help people see each other in a different light.

  • You could add a quarterly reception at a local pub or restaurant

    It doesn’t have to be required, just a place that everyone knows the board members will be hanging out for an hour once a month. This will work better if the board leadership is committed to making it happen by being there.

  • You could take 10 minutes in each board meeting to hear people’s stories about why they are on the board

    The energy in the room shifts perceptibly when people start sharing their stories. Why not use that to your advantage?

  • You could have a retreat or a work day

    Every nonprofit seems to have something that needs more focused attention whether it be fundraising training or cleaning up a vacant lot or walking trail. Getting the board to work together on something like this outside of the normal board meeting can be a great way to socialize too.

  • You could use a Google+ Hangout

    If your board comes from all over the country or region, use technology to your advantage. Try holding a Goolge= Hangout or using Skype or some other video conferencing tool. This allows you to see each other in your “natural habitat.” If you’re not familiar with Google+, check out my article How to hold a Google+ Hangout and why you should

Not everyone will go for this “socializing” thing. It seems a bit wasteful time-wise. But as your board members learn to trust one another, they will become more comfortable in sharing their hopes and concerns for your nonprofit. That will lead to much better governance.

Can your nonprofit really afford to NOT provide times for your board to socialize?

→ 2 CommentsTags: 4. Love (Stewardship) · Odd

Fundraising secrets aren’t so secret

February 20th, 2012 · 3 Comments

I am fond of saying that “fundraising is an extreme sport.” Like great athletes, fundraisers need to focus on the basics.

At Blog World Expo last November I got to do a live interview with Susan McLennan about those basics, treating people with respect, and an easy way to do a “thankathon.”

Watch the entire interview here:

Buy the book or DVD at the Ask Without Fear! page on FundraisingCoach.com.

→ 3 CommentsTags: 1. Research · 2. Engage · 3. Ask · 4. Love (Stewardship)

Valentine’s Day for fundraisers – showing yourself the love

February 14th, 2012 · 1 Comment

Thank you!

Valentine Day for nonprofit fundraisers
As a fundraiser for a nonprofit cause, you are changing the world. Making it a better place.

We need people like you!

Loving the askers

If we’re good at fundraising, we spend considerable time thinking about how to best thank our donors. We throw galas, write notes, set up tours and appointments with the Executive Director. This is perfectly appropriate as they are the ones that fund what we do.

But today I want to say thanks to you, the asker. The #1 reason anyone makes a gift is because they’re asked. They are asked.

How do you say thanks to yourself? As you know, precious few will do it for you. I’m not moaning or griping when I say that. It’s just the way it is in most charities.

Don’t let it be that way today.

Today, show yourself some love

Today do something to thank yourself:

  • give yourself a pat on the back,
  • watch the brief thank you to fundraisers video I recorded in June
  • write yourself a Valentine’s note and send it in the mail
  • call and leave yourself a voicemail thanking your self for the great work you’re doing.
  • or do something far more creative.

It’s up to you. You’re changing the world. Be sure to stop and say thanks.

Tell us about your Valentine to yourself

Share what you do here in the comments!

And if you are a blogger, write about your saying thanks. Then enter it in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival.

→ 1 CommentTags: 4. Love (Stewardship)

Upcoming Fundraising Coach training events in Nebraska & San Antonio

February 12th, 2012 · No Comments

Fundraising Coach trainings in Omaha & Lincoln Nebraska and San AntonioMy upcoming fundraising training seminars take me to Omaha, Nebraska; Lincoln, Nebraska; and San Antonio, Texas, including a rare public seminar there!

I hope to see you at one of these!

→ No CommentsTags: Education Opportunities

Nonprofit fundraising & Groundhog Day’s Ned Ryerson

February 2nd, 2012 · 3 Comments

Happy Groundhog Day! It’s become my Groundhog Day tradition to repost my 2008 post: Fundraising Secret #11: Don’t Be A Ned. Enjoy! (And don’t be a Ned!)


Fundraising Secret #11: Don’t be a Ned
annoying salesman
Click on the image to watch the clip.

Does this sound like your fundraising efforts?

Ned: Phil? Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you!

Phil: Hi, thanks for watching. [Starts to walk away]

Ned: Hey now, don’t you tell me you don’t remember me ’cause I sure as heckfire remember you.

Phil: Not a chance.

Ned: Ned… Ryerson. “Needlenose Ned”? “Ned the Head”? C’mon, buddy. Case Western High. I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing. Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn’t graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? Well?

Phil: Ned Ryerson?

Ned: BING!

Phil: Bing.

Ned: Do you have life insurance, Phil? Because if you do, you could always use a little more, I mean, who couldn’t? But let me tell something – I got’s a feeling [whistles] you ain’t got any. Am I right or am I right or am I right? Right, right right.

I crack up every time I see this scene!

Phil is so completely self-absorbed and utterly uninterested in Ned, let alone what Ned’s selling. And Ned’s so completely absorbed with selling insurance, he’s not reading Phil’s very clear signs of indifference.

Please, don’t be a Ned.

Our donors have had it “up to here” with marketing and sales and promises from people that don’t care about them.

Learn to care.

Our donors, like us, are real people with real concerns about real lives. And your nonprofit isn’t at the center of their real lives. Nor should it be.

It’s our job to help get our organization on their radar screen. But rather than going after anyone that can fog a mirror, it’s more helpful for your fundraising efforts to figure out what type of person already gives to you.

  • Men or women?
  • WWII generation? Silent Generation? Boomer? Xer? Millenial?
  • What draws them to your mission?
  • How are they first introduced to your organization?

I’d venture to guess it’s not by accosting them on the street in the middle of a cold February day. (Or on the phone. Or in the mail.)

So as you start this new year, commit to taking the time to do the hard research to get to know your current donors. And commit to engaging with donors and donor prospects to get to know them, and to let them get to know you, before you ask.

And whatever you do, please, don’t be a Ned!

→ 3 CommentsTags: 2. Engage · 3. Ask

How do you take care of yourself? | Nonprofit Blog Carnival

January 31st, 2012 · 4 Comments

I’m thrilled to be hosting the Nonprofit Blog Carnival for February!

How do you take care of yourself as a fundraising? | Nonprofit Blog CarnivalSince Valentines’ Day is this month, the Carnival topic is: As a fundraiser, how do you take care of yourself?

I believe fundraising is the best profession in the world! But it can be incredibly stressful, grueling, and thankless.

We often focus on letting donors know we love them, but how do you show yourself the love?

Nonprofit blog readers

If you’re a blog reader, sit tight. I’ll post a round up of the best of the blogs right here on FundraisingCoach.com at the end of February.

Nonprofit bloggers

If you’re a blogger, here’s how to be part of the carnival (even if only as a clown!)

  • Write a post if ideas of how you take care of yourself. How do you as a fundraiser reenergize? Give yourself a pat on the back? Recover from the “no”? Feed your creativity? Stay inspired?

    There isn’t a right or wrong type of post. Yours may be funny, serious, or even emotional.

  • Email your permalink to nonprofitcarnival@gmail.com or fill out this handy form by Monday 2/27.
  • I’ll sift through all the submissions and, with the help of my team, will choose the ones that best fit the topic. Posts well written and relatively recent (within the last couple months) are best.
  • Check back here on February 2/29 to see if your post made it. And to get great ideas on how to keep yourself motivated for the long haul!

Let the carnival begin!

I look forward to your creativity!!

To get an idea of how the posts will be collected at the end of the month, check out January’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival. These are posts relating to “dreams” (since we observed MLK Day here in the States!).

→ 4 CommentsTags: 4. Love (Stewardship)

How to create a road map for your goals

January 30th, 2012 · No Comments

Half way looking at the road mapThe first month of the year is gone! Now is a great time to review your goals. (I have blogged about goal setting here.)

As you review your goals, you may find your behind on some. Creating a road map will help jump start those goals.

To create a goals road map follow this simple 5-step process:

  1. Write out your goal

    What is it you want to accomplish? Make sure the goal is worded so that it is:

    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Action oriented
    • Results oriented
    • Time sensitive

    Remember, a goal without a deadline is only a fantasy!

  2. List out what steps have to happen

    Take the time to list out everything that needs to happen in order to accomplish the goal. Add a date by when each step needs to happen so you can reach your goal on time.

  3. List out everyone who can help with each step

    After each step, list out the strategic alliances, people, and resources that can help make it happen. Do you need a department directors help in getting a step done? List her name. Is there an association or committee that can help with the next step? Write it down. Will a class or book help? Write that down too.

  4. Brainstorm obstacles that might occur

    What could stand in your way of accomplishing your goal? Right down as many obstacles as you can think of.

    I used to think this was a bad idea. Why use imagination so negatively?

    But now I see this is realistic. Obstacles always happen when someone attempts a goal worth pursuing. Listing them out neutralizes them, helping us keep up our momentum. So get them on paper. And list out the people that can help you overcome them.

  5. Write the name of your coach or accountability person

    Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy when we’re trying something of value. Having a person outside of our organization who’ll hold us accountable for our goals is invaluable. We are less likely to make excuses to them than we are to make them to ourselves.

This process works as well for accomplishing professional goals as it does for creating solicitation strategies for top major gift prospects!

Following these steps will help make sure you can cross out your goals as “achieved”!

To get the free MagnetGoals ecourse, or to purchase the workbook, go to: http://fundraisingcoach.com/magnet-goals/

→ No CommentsTags: 3. Ask

Free nonprofit tools from 10 different experts!

January 25th, 2012 · No Comments

Nonprofit Goodies GiveawayI’m thrilled to be participating in the Nonprofit Goodies Giveaway!

10 of us have gotten together to offer:

  • 5 free ebooks including the Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising and my own Ask Without Fear!,
  • 2 free workbooks,
  • 2 free trainings, and
  • one free Donor Map.

On the Nonprofit Goodies Giveaway site there are tools to help with your major gifts, annual fund, grant fundraising, storytelling and presentations. There’s even a training to help you with your benefit auctions.

But hurry these goodies are only available until January 31!
To get your year started with these great tools, simply go to: http://nonprofitgoodies.com/

→ No CommentsTags: Specials

Brief rant: YOU ARE NOT YOUR PERFECT DONOR!

January 18th, 2012 · 2 Comments

[Warning: Rant in progress]
pink fluffy ear muffsIn my book Ask Without Fear!, I encourage fundraisers to PYITS–put yourself in their shoes. Thinking like the donor or prospect can save you lots of embarrassment in the process of asking for money.

But never forget: you are not your perfect donor

Your major gift donor prospects are not on the same life trajectory as you. They have different life goals, work patterns, and values. This is good. This is why they are in a financial place for you to be talking to them.

So listen to what they want.

Based on my trainings around the world, 70-75% of the people reading this blog are outgoing, gregarious extraverts who love to be recognized. Don’t assume your donor wants their name up in lights. They may simply want a note of thanks from the CEO. Or maybe a quiet coffee with her.

On the other hand, if you tend to be more introverted and detail oriented, remember that your donor may indeed want to have his name listed as prominently as possible. Or to be recognized at a big gala.

Today, take off your ear muffs

Even if you could never conceive of anyone really wanting “that” [splashy recognition, quiet recognition, whatever], listen to what the donor wants.

As you go through your day today, take off your ear muffs to listen. It might even help to stop at the donors office door and pantomime taking off ear muffs.

You’ll be able to raise alot more money when you remember that you really aren’t your perfect donor.
[The rant is now over]

How do you stop assuming you know and really listen? Tell us in the comments!

→ 2 CommentsTags: 2. Engage · 3. Ask · 4. Love (Stewardship)

MLK and your nonprofit fundraising

January 15th, 2012 · No Comments

Out of the Mountain of Despair   A Stone of HopeIn the United States we’re honoring the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I’m sure many people will be posting about the “I have a dream” speech. I get so inspired reading his speech.

We in the nonprofit world sure know about dreams! We see the world both as it is and as it can be. So much of our job is telling people that story.

But MLK’s life wasn’t just telling stories. He did the work. He marched. He went to jail. He put himself in harms way.

While I hope we get inspired about dreams and a free and equal world, I really hope we all get inspired to do action.

Tough action.

What kind of tough action are you willing to take this year to make the world better?

Let us know in the comments what you’ll do. I hope you’ll consider asking more!

→ No CommentsTags: 3. Ask