21st Century Leadership Characteristics
Early in my career, I had a boss who had definite ideas about leadership. Ideas that were tied closely to authority and image. She wasRead More
Escape Negative News: 8 Sites to Uplift Your Spirits
Contrary to popular opinion, there are plenty of positive stories about philanthropy. In 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge became a viral sensation and raised millionsRead More
An Alternative to the Compliment Sandwich
Let’s face it, fundraisers are lousy at staying put. With an average stay of less than two years, development officers cite stress, unrealistic expectations, andRead More
Habits Improve Fundraising Performance
To many fundraisers, nothing is more terrifying than making a cold call. It was no surprise, then, that attendees at a recent conference flocked toRead More
When Megadonors Disappoint
There’s been a lull in the reporting of Sam Bankman-Fried, but surely it will ramp up when he is sentenced on March 28. As youRead More
A Real Love Story
She did it. Dr. Ruth Gottesman donated $1 billion to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. It’s philanthropic news, but it’s also a love story.Read More
Surviving a Bad Performance Review
The final quarter of the year involves frantically getting year-end appeals out, making stewardship calls to our beloved donors, managing a high volume of events,Read More
From a Fixed to a Fundraising Mindset #6
My success depends on closing this gift. I confess, I have fallen prey to this message. So much seemed at stake that it was easyRead More
From a Fixed to a Fundraising Mindset #5
The donor is so influential, she’ll never talk to me. One of the reasons I loved being a fundraiser was because it allowed me toRead More
From a Fixed to a Fundraising Mindset #4
I’ll be humiliated if the donor says no. No, you won’t. You won’t be humiliated if you have taken time to understand the donor’s interests.Read More