Welcome to the May 31st edition of Extreme Fundraising
We’re continuing to look at the mistakes we make in asking people for money. I’m transitioning the archives to http://blog.fundraisingcoach.com/ so if you’re looking for previous issues, check there first. Then check in https://fundraisingcoach.com/ezine.htm.
I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: BEING TOO BUSY
II. RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: CDE THANKS
III. CHARITY UNIVERSITY
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I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: BEING TOO BUSY
Have you ever heard the touching story about the founding of Stanford. The story goes that a poor looking couple went to Harvard to see about building a building in their son’s memory. The too busy Harvard president spurned them, saying, “Do you realize how much a building costs? We have over $7.5 million invested in our physical plant.” The wife looks at her husband and says, “Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don’t we start our own?” So the Stanfords went home to Palo Alto and started the university that bears their name.
First, that story isn’t true. It’s an urban legend. You can get the full story at:
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/stanford.htm
Nevertheless, the moral of the story is still good. Think about its implications. Are we so busy being managers and raising money that we forget to take time to be people? After all, ours is primarily a relationships business. And people are far more connected with each other than we’ll ever know.
Did you know the average planned giving prospect gives their favorite nonprofit $5 per year? $5. Every year. But statistics normally show the average planned gift is over $10,000.
What would an additional $10,000 do for your organization today?
So let’s remember that our business is about people, rich or poor. Yes, we need to be wise stewards of our limited resources, including time. But we also have to have the integrity to treat people well, regardless of their circumstances.
We can all improve on our people skills. What can you do today to get practice treating people a little better than you have been?
II. RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: CDE THANKS
Thanks to all of you who responded to me email asking how Creating Donor Evangelists changed the way you approach your work. I’m honored by your kindness! I neglected to include that the CDE report is available free at https://fundraisingcoach.com/articles.htm. Just look for the guy with the sandwich board sign.
Congratulations to Jennifer Warwick, managing director of the Burdenski and Taylor Consulting Group and Rob Hatch, executive director of the Child Health Center! Both Jennifer and Rob knew that person that ordered coffee “black as midnight on a moonless night” was special agent Dale Cooper from the Twin Peaks TV series.
Please feel free to email me your thoughts about Creating Donor Evangelists or Twin Peaks at marc@fundraisingcoach.com.
III.CHARITY UNIVERSITY
A great resource just got even better. Charity University has just added dozens of new classes to its line up. Many of these are live calls so if you attend, you’ll be able to interact with the presenter.
Since the “on demand” classes are already recorded, you can access them when it’s most convenient to your schedule. Be sure to check out “Fundraising 101” by yours truly. That link is:
http://charitychannel.com/publish/templates/?a=4709&z=58
To your extreme fundraising success!
