Do you SWOT before accepting a job offer?
How do you make that decision to accept your next position?
Do you go by with what your heart feels? Well, there is some importance to listening to your "heart," "intuition" or "gut" when making decisions like this, there is also an important…
More than just a monetary number – the capital campaign feasibility study
There are quite a number of groups seeking to test the feasibility of a possible capital campaign.
And, so naturally being a consulting firm catering to small fundraising shops, I tend to get asked to talk about these, and I am currently in…
The revolving fundraising door at our organizations
What is going on out there?
For the past year, I have watched development jobs come and go on the job boards.
I lamented that folks like myself with over 20 years of experience, certifications, and education were getting passed up for the…
Oh, the woes of a nonprofit fundraising database!
So, let's talk database.
What? That seems like something so mundane. Well, it may be, but it is so critical to fundraising.
Throughout my professional career, I have been victim to bad databases, and I have been asked to work with bad databases.
One…
New “DCS” interim development services
Development Consulting Solutions is announcing NEW interim and project-based service offerings:
Who is “DCS”?
There are limited Certified Fund-Raising Executives (CFRE) providing outsourced fund development services and serving as interim…
Is it time to go public with our campaign? Maybe, maybe not!
When to go public?
A question that I am asked a bit. When can our capital campaign go public? When can we put a thermometer out on our lawn? When can we start to ask our constituents and the general community? When can we have a special event…
A season of burnout?
I have worked in the nonprofit world far longer than I can remember. My job began in the sector back in 1992 or so, when I became a grant writing intern for a local non-profit organization as part of my undergraduate work.
Little did I realize…
Do not take Fund Development best practices at face value!
Best practices. We hear that phrase often. This week, I even read a question asking if "best practices were misleading?"
Are we throwing that phrase around to legitimize our field? Our do we have best practices and what are they?
Well, I contend…
Yep, the Board does have a role in a capital campaign!
What, wait, we hired that Capital Campaign Consultant to run the campaign, and now you are telling me that I have to do something. No, this can't be possible.
Yep! It would be unrealistic to think that a capital campaign is left up to…
Sink or swim: the capital campaign steering committee
So, I have a niche somewhat of assisting smaller nonprofits with their capital campaigns.
This niche can be challenging because many of these groups have not had an ongoing, comprehensive fund development program in the past. However, working…
OORAH – What the Marines taught me about fundraising
This weekend I took a little vacation of sorts. I ran a marathon. The Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. Running a marathon is exhausting, but also, reflective. For you see, you run for 26 miles. That is a long time on your feet…
“Am I asking my donors too much?” Well, Virginia let me tell you the answer.
So, here it is. I am laying this question and answer right out on the line. Especially now that we are coming to the year-end giving season.
I am asked time and time again, "Didn't we just mail to them, won't we be bothering them?"
No, no,…
