After almost 10 years of leading Capital Campaign Pro, and a decade before that as a solopreneur consultant, I've hired and parted ways with a lot of staff and contractors. It's never fun, and it's never easy. Hiring is one of the most challenging parts of leadership, whether you're running a business or a nonprofit. And parting ways is … [Read more...]
Why Your Board Members Are Disengaged (And How to Fix It)
A few months ago, I asked nonprofit leaders a simple question: "What's your number one challenge right now?" Time and money topped the list -- no surprise there. But a close third caught my attention: board engagement (or more precisely, disengagement). What Are the Expectations of Nonprofit Board Members? When I see a disconnect … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned at AFP ICON: Navigating AI in the Nonprofit Sector
Last week I had the privilege of delivering a new talk -- "Anyone Can Raise $1M or More in Any Economy – Even You!" -- at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference (AFP ICON). The talk shares real stories of fundraisers who overcame serious hurdles and raised millions -- not through magic, but through simple, … [Read more...]
Professional Development I’ve Found Invaluable at AFP — and You Will Too
When I first started in fundraising in 1998, my boss encouraged me to attend my local AFP chapter’s monthly meetings. At the time, I had no idea that simple suggestion would help shape my entire career. That suggestion led to nearly 30 years of growth, opportunity, and meaningful colleagues and friendships. Not long after joining AFP-NJ, … [Read more...]
The Myth of Readiness: Waiting to Feel Ready May Be Holding You Back
There’s a popular saying: progress, not perfection. While you may want things to be perfect (I certainly do), there comes a point when the pursuit of perfection starts holding you back instead of moving you forward. So the real question becomes: How do you know when it’s time to leap, launch, or jump? The Illusion of the “Right” … [Read more...]
Resilience in Fundraising: How to Turn “No” Into Life-Long Success
As a fundraiser and nonprofit leader, you hear “no” a lot. And it takes resilience to pick yourself up and face the next day -- or the next donor. I’ve long believed that major gift fundraisers should hear “no” about 25% of the time. I'll explain why. Aim for Hearing "No" About 25% of the Time If you receive a “yes” 100% of the time, … [Read more...]
From “I Should” to “I Choose”: A Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Your mindset matters. Your mindset influences the words you use, the actions you take, and ultimately, the results you achieve. Often, the difference between feeling drained and feeling energized has less to do with what you’re doing and more to do with how you’re thinking about it. Reframing "Have To" Into "Choose To" When you … [Read more...]
Living the Worst-Case Scenario (and Surviving to Tell the Tale)
Recently, I was the luncheon keynote speaker at a large conference. It was a big room. A big audience. And a brand-new topic I’d been developing for months. I hired a speaking coach to help me sharpen it and make sure I was truly ready, and I practiced that speech more than any other I’ve ever given. I wanted to show up as my best … [Read more...]
Living an Intentional, Purposeful Life: Goals That Truly Matter
Living an intentional life -- a life grounded in purpose, meaning, and direction -- is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Intentional lives don’t happen by accident. They’re created through reflection, choice, and commitment. And because you’re reading this blog, I’m guessing (yes, I know what they say about assumptions) that … [Read more...]
Rethinking Donor Relationships: From Superheroes to True Partners
For decades, many fundraisers were taught to view donors as superheroes. In other words, as saviors swooping in to rescue our organizations. Others fell into treating donors like cash machines, expected to produce funding on command. Today, we know better. At least, in theory. Across the sector, we talk about donors as partners in our … [Read more...]
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