Have you noticed that when talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in fundraising, the conversation frequently mentions the lack of suitable candidates of color? Iāve heard that to be a major gift officer you have to have access to people with money, be comfortable socializing with them, and speak [...]
Nonprofit board service is a serious matter! It is a huge commitment that requires devotion and proactive effort like making a cake from scratch for your sonās 10th birthday party. A big deal indeed! Most people want to serve because they have passion for a cause or mission which is [...]
Higher salary. Nicer car. An assistant. Perks.Ā Nonprofit C-level executives are compensated better than their coworkers. There is a definitely a wide wage gap between senior managers and fundraisers, program managers and those in the field. But does that automatically mean senior managers should be expected to donate at a [...]
āIf a board member isnāt passionate enough to give, how can they share their passion for the mission with the wider community?ā āThere should be a give or get.ā āIf a board member wonāt give, then they donāt understand their responsibility as a board member.ā Just Because Everyone Believes Itā¦ [...]
Is your organization prepared to respond if a prominent staff member or volunteer is accused of assaulting someone in your community? Four nonprofits found themselves in that position this week. Their responses can help other organizations contemplate responding to assault allegations ā and how to better prevent them in the [...]
Never deprive someone the chance to become a philanthropist There are plenty of reasons to oppose employee giving: Pressure to give. Power dynamic. Staff already give through hours of unpaid overtime. Employees are underpaid. Disproportionately affects the lowest paid employees. In last weekās post, I looked at five reasons why [...]
As non-profit professionals, we know that a good board is the lifeblood to a successful organization. It is also no secret that the world and our communities have been forced to become more separate due to a global pandemic. So, how do we stay motivated and connected and keep board [...]
Iām about to hit you with a big Truth Bomb: Your donors are confused during this period of philanthropy triage. The past year changed everything they thought they knew about the world ā and that includes you, your nonprofitās place in the world, and your nonprofitās mission among their list [...]
Iām underpaid and overworked. You want me to donate as well?! Has the organization you work/ed for ever asked you to be a donor to them as well? How did you feel when they asked? Was the ask made in a respectful, polite way (like they would their actual donors) [...]
They say, āIf you canāt beat āem, join āem.ā Hopefully your relationship with our board isnāt adversarial, but if weāre being honest itās not uncommon to have challenges! Thereās a power differential between staff and the board, especially for staff further removed from the board. But when you join a [...]
When you hear the phrase āfaith-based fundraising,ā you might immediately think of churches, congregations, and similar organizations. However, many social service nonprofits operate from a mission filled with faith, often representing collaboration among a variety of supporters, regardless of their particular religious affiliation. We spoke with several colleagues in these [...]
Iām not normally a fan of New Yearās resolutions. They unnecessarily pressure people and create unrealistic goals. For the last 40 years I have avoided setting New Yearās resolutions for myself but after the dumpster-fire that was 2020 Iām compelled to make a resolution ā to become a bigger and [...]