The world of private philanthropy is often an enigma in the eyes of nonprofit leaders. We create confusion and frustration for nonprofit organizations. We are a puzzle. We speak in riddles and leave breadcrumb trails of paradox. Nonprofit staff spends countless hours in workshops and conferences seeking a better understanding of private foundations and major donors. Perhaps you are familiar with t ...[Read More]
How to Forge Stronger Relationships with Your Favorite Nonprofits
Philanthropy Made Easy… After 40 Years of Lessons Learned!
It started this way, “The questions that loom large as you navigate a college education are: What’s next? What career, what advanced degrees, where to start?” That was the opening paragraph of a very short piece I contributed to my alma mater for A Patriot’s Guide to Success. It was a few paragraphs intended for the freshman class of the University of Texas at Tyler. The small hardback book, chock ...[Read More]
How to Make the Most of Your Time at Fundraising Events
How many special event fundraisers have you attended – this year, last year, the last decade? I’ve been to so many that it would take all the fingers and toes of a roomful of friends to count them all. None stand out; they blend together in my mind. Now before you bale on this post, let me explain. My purpose is not to help the nonprofit be better at their particular br ...[Read More]
Do You Know the True Cost of Success for Your Favorite Nonprofit?
What keeps you reading when you open the envelope and find a fundraising letter? Do you scan for the client numbers – people served, sheltered or fed? Do you look for program costs – how much the program costs per client? Or do your eyes catch the story and pictures? If the nonprofit organization is smart, they put their best story right up front, early in the letter. Stories capture our attention ...[Read More]