When you work in the fundraising space, sometimes it seems as though you refurbish the same materials. Grants language? Check the latest proposal, or if you are very organized, a master proposal that contains updated language. Impact? Check the annual report. Heartwarming stories? Check your annual appeal letter. While writing [...]
Now that we've entered a new decade (by that I mean it's now the 2020s; I know there wasn't a year zero or whatever), an ever-popular theme for fundraising events has renewed life: the 1920s or Great Gatsby-themed gala. Not since 2013 when the Leonardo DiCaprio-led movie adaptation was released [...]
Have you ever wondered who these ‘expert’ speakers are that you see presenting at nonprofit conferences? How did they get in that position and how, when you’re ready to push yourself out of your comfort zone, can you get there? It’s not just about testing yourself and doing something different. [...]
What’s in a nonprofit brand? Everything. Think about the most popular and well-known charities. What comes to mind? I’ll bet you’re able to envision who they are, why they do what they do, and what they do in an instant. For example, Charity: water. The ASPCA. The ACLU. Red Cross. [...]
Everything you do emanates from the WHY and WHAT of your existence. Your mission! And both the why and what are important, because if folks don’t understand why you exist it’s difficult to inspire them with what you are doing. I always ask a new client what would happen were they to [...]
In Part 1 of this three-part series about developing your unique, essential “Case for Support.” I introduced the concept of the nonprofit mission, values and vision triad. Together they’re how you are known in the community. They become your brand. In Part 2 we dove deeper into what constitutes your [...]
In Part 1 of this three-part series about developing your unique, essential “Case for Support.” I introduced the concept of the nonprofit mission, values and vision triad. Together they’re how you are known in the community. They become your brand. “A brand is the essence of one’s own unique story… [...]
Mission. Values. Vision. Organized, they become your brand, and your singular and compelling case for support. Together they drive everything your nonprofit does today. And everything you will do tomorrow. They are your body, heart and soul. Combined, they define your essence. They are how you are known in the [...]
Branding is vital to your nonprofit’s success. It’s what people think about when they think of your organization. It impacts everything including your ability to recruit board members and raise money. Consider this: When people think about making a charitable gift, they often think of the familiar, more well-known, well-publicized [...]