“THANK YOU! I am absolutely thrilled. Just talking it out made me realize what I really want and nudged me to ‘go for it.’ If that was coaching, then you are brilliant!”
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?
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.”
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.
My upcoming fundraising training seminars take me to Omaha, Nebraska; Lincoln, Nebraska; and San Antonio, Texas, including a rare public seminar there!
Thursday, February 23: AFP- Nebraska Luncheon “Who’s Telling YOUR Story?”
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 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.
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.
Since 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.
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!).
The 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:
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!
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.
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.
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.
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”!
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/
[Warning: Rant in progress] In 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!
