human resources
Silver bullets and cross stitch
At every conference I have ever been to there has been a session called ‘the next big thing’ and delegates turn up expectantly hoping for a silver bullet that will give them all the answers. Read more…
communication
The State of Relationship Fundraising – A Conversation
This is the first of two blogs looking comprehensively, and provocatively, at the state of relationship fundraising. In this first blog, we define relationship fundraising, and look at its implications, strengths and weaknesses. In the Read more…
101fundraising
Simply the Best: Top 10 blog posts! (Q1 2015)
Hello everyone! The first Top 10 of 2015 is a fact. Again 10 awesome posts. With a range of interesting topics. What is your favorite? Congrats to Charlie for his #1 post about donor retention! We Read more…
career
Let’s start talking their language…
I haven’t always been a fundraiser, but having been in the sector for a while now. I have to admit, I love it. I love how much we share ideas and I love that even Read more…
donors
Do You Give Back?
A question fundraisers were never asked…until now. Your answers were revealed at last week’s AFP conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Responses to the survey “How Philanthropic are Fundraisers?” came in from 19 countries from places as Read more…
acquisition
Brilliant model for brilliant proposals for brilliant target groups!
Having trouble framing the right case for support for specific donors? Do all your proposals address roughly the same issues? Are all your proposals aimed at roughly the same target group? Are you looking to Read more…
acquisition
Five big reasons your fundraising results could be better
(And they’re all about your audience) There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of tactics we can apply to get better fundraising results. But what are the big things that make the really big differences? 1. You’re Read more…
communication
What fundraisers can learn from how activists are using mobile to organise
No one can doubt that the mobile phone is now a firmly established fundraising tool. As a sector we’re taking full advantage of the opportunity. Text to donate asks appear on trains, the tube, the Read more…
communication
“Ah, Integration: If Only …” Whether you Will or Whether you Won’t, it’s All in the Mind
Integration: such an easy word to say, such a wonderful idea. But such a difficult thing to do. A Utopian dream or the latest thing that just makes our jobs harder? It’s not the first time I’ve used this classic quote from Confucius, but he does nail it: “Life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated”. (more…)
acquisition
Make Poverty History Lesson: what can it teach us 10 years on?
You probably remember it much as I do: the white wristbands, the star-studded Live8 concert, the remarkable celebrity ‘finger click’ ads, Blair and Brown and the G8 summit engaged and involved. And all of it Read more…
donors
A retention vision like Billie Holiday
Across the charity sector we literally spend days on the creation of boardroom presentations, we meet for hours in cross-functional working groups, and the other half of the day we’re either in one-on-one or team Read more…
high value donors
For major gifts success: rely on proven systems. Not luck, hope, or willpower
We’ve all worked with gift officers who “wing it.” We’ve probably even caught ourselves “winging it” at one time or another. What do I mean? You’re winging it if you sit down at your desk Read more…
communication
A tale of two donors
or The ENORMOUS difference in value between ‘what’ and ‘why’ Charlotte and Emily have never met. They are the same age, live in the same area, have the same income, the same outgoings and the Read more…
acquisition
Storytelling – it’s more important than you think
The sense I get is that many fundraisers think “Stories oh yeh – they’re important but not critical”. It’s seen as a nice to have. “What we need for our fundraising campaign is a catchy Read more…
communication
Why so many organisations fail at Facebook
If you find Facebook is not really working for your organisation, I am willing to bet that it is not Facebook’s fault – it’s yours. Too many take too lightly on their social media work Read more…
governance
Gloves Off??
Where are all the challengers? The agitators? The objectors? The realists? The more sophisticated and developed our Sector becomes the more people seem happy to stay in line or fall into line. We seem to Read more…
corporate
Lessons in Corporate Giving from the Maple Syrup Mafia
I live and work in Vancouver BC. It’s a short, two hour flight from San Francisco and the Silicon Valley. Vancouver is experiencing a tech boom right now. Start-ups are everywhere you turn – they Read more…
communication
Things to Know Before You Tackle Your Next (Fundraising) Writing Project
Sometimes it seems like good writing has become one of the lost arts of the fundraising practice. Email and social media may be to blame, or too many demands on our time, or our Read more…
individuals
Why I’m Not a Fan of Welcome Packs
‘Hate’ would be too strong a word. I really just think we can all do so much better. I know every charity that sends a welcome pack to new donors has the best of intentions. Read more…
corporate
Trustees/Board Members: Best friends or worst enemies?
Those responsible for the governance of non-profits are often our worst enemies when they could be our best friends. (I am referring to volunteer leaders) Let me quote a poem from a great British poet Read more…
campaigns
Catching the Not-for-Profit Goldfish
It’s Sunday morning and I’m helping my 9 year-old son with his math homework. 60 sums, 10 seconds each, all in his head. By question 50 he gets frustrated as thoughts of Lego dominate. It’s Read more…
Latest posts
How to grow fundraising leaders
Who would be a leader? Rarely worshipped nowadays, often reviled. Unable to live up to expectations or confirming people’s negative impressions. The weight of the world on your shoulders but often dependent on others. First Read more…
career
The Victories and Challenges of Small Shop Fundraising
I have worked for a few “small shops” in my career. Each organization had its own quirky, wonderful, and bizarre challenges and victories. I worked for a theatre in a building so old that the Read more…
acquisition
Solidarity, Ubuntu & iPads: canvassing in South Africa
South Africa. A beautiful, complicated country that’s only recently emerged from a very difficult past. In terms of fundraising, it’s considered an emerging market. From the story and webinar below, I hope fundraisers around the Read more…
acquisition
Are You Addicted to Acquisition (AA)?
“Hi, I am fundraiser and I’m addicted to acquisition.” Dear fundraiser, let’s start our day by admitting our addiction. We’re all obsessed with the idea of “new”: our new fundraising campaign, testing crowd-funding, creating best Read more…
