The great thing about writing a blog on a regular basis is that the author has the opportunity to really dive into a subject and examine it on a microscopic level. Today is such a day, when we pull out our microscopes and peer deeply into our organization’s image. Let’s talk about voice mail and […]

Strong leadership is essential to being successful with your fundraising goals.  There’s not just one or even a handful of leaders that are important to a nonprofit organization.  Leadership can come from staff (at all levels), donors, committee members, advocates, volunteers serving on short term projects (like fundraising events) or those that give a few […]

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. we set aside today as a holiday. While it is a historic day, it is not a time to look back with either the extremes of sentimentality or heated debate. It’s a time for appreciation, work and looking toward the future. There are many clips of Dr. King’s […]

Each Monday I get a success newsletter from John Chappelear.  He includes two affirmations each time, one for personal success and the other for business.   Today’s Business Thought of the Week is particularly apt for charitable organizations. With my slight adjustment for nonprofits: I will not draw into my shell. Weak economic times call for […]

Will You Be Running a Raffle in 2011-12?  If so, check out the e-book from Sandra Sims and Jim Berigan.  Raffle Secrets is 50 pages long and comes with three free bonus e-books. Excellent content from authors you’ve known and trusted for years!   I field questions about raffle fundraisers quite often.  Especially since the […]

If anyone has the right to brag, it’s the President Elect.  But in last night’s acceptance speech, Barack Obama focused his attention on us. Discussing the speech on CNN David Gergen commented about how Obama focused not on himself, but on the voters. He told the story of a 106 year old woman, everything she […]

Marc Pitman, the Fundraising Coach, recently wrote, “Aren’t you tired of receiving fundraising appeals with a message of “If you don’t give now, we won’t survive”?” I have to agree. Even if your organization is having a tough time, this kind of message, especially sent in a mass direct mail appeal, is not a wise […]