Engage: Behind-the-scenes
I’m reading Emmanuel Rosen's "The Anatomy of Buzz." Very slowly. I’ve got it on my PDA and read it only when I don’t have any other book handy. But it’s well worth reading. Really. Last week, during a 70 minute failed attempt to give blood (they kept missing the...
The Charitable Impulse
I'm sitting in my office finally taking the time to read the Public Agenda Research Reports: The Charitable Impulse. This study interviewed donors and charity leaders to find out each others' perceptions. Reading the comments of donors versus the perceptions of...
Engage!
FUNDRAISING BASICS: Get R.E.A.L! Engage! All too often, we're totally backwards about asking people for money. Asking so fills us with fear that we put off the inevitable as long as possible. But at some point, our organizations goes into a financial crisis, and we...
In Charleston, SC
Good morning! Today I'm in a wet Charleston, SC at Blackbaud's Conference on Philanthropy. I'm learning lots already. (I've even was able to attend a Jars of Clay concert. Sara Groves and Chris Rice also performed. It was incredible. Ok, that may not be "learning" in...
Peer Reviews & the CPI Index
I. FUNDRAISING BASICS: Get R.E.A.L.! Peer Reviews & The CPI Index In our last edition, we were discussing some different ways to do the "research" step of the Get R.E.A.L.! Process (Research, Engage, Ask, Live/Like/Love). Now, let's look at two other Research tools:...
Get R.E.A.L.! Research!
I. FUNDRAISING BASICS: Get R.E.A.L.! Research II. RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: Blackbaud's Conference on Philanthropy I. FUNDRAISING BASICS: Get R.E.A.L.! I love asking people for money! I like to think of the fundraiser as holding an electrical cord (the donor's interests)...
The Basics are Extreme
I. FUNDRAISING BASICS: Introduction II. RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: aweber.com I. FUNDRAISING BASICS: Introduction I’ve been publishing the Extreme Fundraising Ezine since 2003. How time flies! All that time, I’ve wondered when someone would ask me, “Marc, what’s so ’xtreme’...
Are You Sold on Your Cause?
I received a terrific comment in response to an email I sent asking for help on a book I'm writing. After I answered it, I asked Lynn if I could reprint it here. I think we all face this scenario at one time or another! Marc - I'm currently working on a fundraiser and...
[Special Request] Would you help me with my book?
I'm in the l-o-n-g and slow process of writing a very practical guide on asking for money. And I could use your help. My goal is to focus almost exclusively on how to make a face-to-face major gift soliciation. And to keep the book small enough for board members to...
Unclear Terms
I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: Unclear Terms II. RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: Executive Director Opening I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: Unclear Terms The Inland Foundation just received a $400,000 matching challenge grant to help us complete our current $1.1 million campaign. I was thrilled...
Job Opportunity: Bowdoin College
Campaign Officer Opening This opening has come across my desk. If I weren't so happily employed I'd seriously look at it. It sounds like fun! If you're interested in learning more, or know someone that may be, just send an to Andrew Wheeler at his email below. Bowdoin...
Fundraising Folly: Entitlement
entitlement n : right granted by law or contract (especially a right to benefits) [Written Wednesday, July 20, 2005] Yet again it's time for Maine Public Broadcasting to do it's pledge drive. Rather than the normal NPR news programs, now much of the time is given over...
1,000 Days
I've been a big fan of goal setting and planning. It's great to get a chance to lift our head out of the day-to-day drudgery and remember why we do what we do. When I wanted to combine the power of planning and the beauty of simplicity, I created my own MagnetGoals...
Keepers of the Lore
I. Fundraising Follies: Forgetting the Story II. Resource Spotlight: WeReview I. Fundraising Follies: Forgetting the Story It seems so much of our time in the nonprofit world is what I call “present-future focus.” Our organizations can see the present and know exactly...
Forgetting What Lies Behind…
I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: Forgetting What Lies Behind– II. RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: Boards That Love Fundraising I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: Forgetting What Lies Behind– Have you ever heard the tale about the guy that was passed over for promotion? He complained to...
Having Fun with Fundraising on the Web
I just love this website's home page! They mention fundraising FOUR TIMES! And it never feels overdone. Isn't the handwritten "donate money here" awesome? It definitely shows you the banana--the one thing they want you to do--but it also makes you smile. Take a minute...
Are You Engaging Your Board?
I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: Not Engaging Your Board II. WANTED: Your Help With My New Book III. RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: CharityUniversity I. FUNDRAISING FOLLIES: Not Engaging Your Board Nonprofit board members must be the eighth wonder of the world! They have lives full of...
Proper Spam User Guide
I always suspected there was a user's guide for spam out there somewhere. Now I've found it! When you're fundraising, please remember that email addresses are a privilege. Don't fall into the trap of using email exclusively "because it's so cheap." That could quickly...
Too busy?
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...
Work Your Plan
Welcome to the May 17th edition of Extreme Fundraising! I think we often learn more from our mistakes than our successes so we’re continuing to look at the mistakes we make in asking people for money. Previous issues of the EFE are available in the archives at...
Bloggers making a difference in philanthropy
Here's an article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy on how blogging is opening foundations up to greater scrutiny. In the article, auther William Schambra writes: Bloggers are scrappy, radically individualistic insurgents. They like nothing better than to take on...
Are You Spreading Yourself Thin Enough?
Welcome to the May 3rd edition of Extreme Fundraising! We're continuing to look at the mistakes we make in asking people for money. Previous issues of the Extreme Fundraising Ezine are available in the archives at http://fundraisingcoach.com/ezine.htm....
Is Your Database Gathering Dust?
Welcome to the April 19th edition of Extreme Fundraising! We're continuing to look at the mistakes we make in asking people for money. Previous issues of the Extreme Fundraising Ezine are available in the archives at http://fundraisingcoach.com/ezine.htm....
Flying Solo Revisited
-------------------------------------------------- I. Fundraising Follies: Flying Solo Revisited II. Resource Spotlight: CharityTalk III. Creating Donor Evangelists Audio Program -------------------------------------------------- I. Fundraising Follies: Flying Solo...
Flying Solo
-------------------------------------------------- I. Fundraising Follies: Flying Solo II. Resource Spotlight: Launchcast Radio III. Creating Donor Evangelists Audio Program -------------------------------------------------- I. Fundraising Follies: Flying Solo The...
Fundraising Follies: Erratic Public and Spell-Check
I love the emails I’ve gotten from development professionals sharing some of their follies. Here are a couple involving direct mail: “Well, now I remember a time when I used the word ‘erotic’ when I meant ‘erratic.’ Luckily not in a situation when it could do any...
Fundraising Institute: Keep the Plates Spinning
The next seminar in my Fundraising Institute is Keep the Plates Spinning: Time Management and Goal Setting in a Small Office. Time management and goal setting is one of my favorite topics! You’ll leave with some elegantly simple tools to help you decide what to focus...
Resource Spotlight: DiSC
There are dozens of personality trait assessments on the market. I highly recommend you check out some form of the D-I-S-C version. It’s simple, easy to learn, easy to remember, and incredibly helpful in dealing with people—donors, staff, even family. My favorite...
Fundraising Follies: Skinning Cats
Today’s fundraising mistake could have happened to any of us. My thanks to Stephen Nill, founder and CEO of CharityChannel.com for submitting it: I was meeting with an elderly lady, 89 years old, who had around 20 cats in her home and around her property. She was...
Resource Spotlight: Google
Google is an amazing resource to all of us. Whether you’re researching prospects, seeking grants, looking up phone numbers, or seeing what other people are saying about your organization, Google is your tool. Best of all, it’s free! Check it out at:...