An upcoming speaking engagement has gotten me thinking about the future of fundraising. I’m guessing you’re thinking about it too. If you're paying attention to statistics on giving trends, you’re probably discouraged. The number of donors, dollars, and donor retention rates have trended down every year for nearly a decade. Reasons to … [Read more...]
As a Woman Leader, You Must Learn to Promote Yourself
Many women are uncomfortable with the idea of marketing or promoting themselves. But if you want to stand out, get ahead, or lead your organization to greatness, it’s important to become comfortable with self-promotion. This is not the sleazy or slick marketing of the old days. Promoting yourself should be helpful, collegial, and kind. Most … [Read more...]
Leadership Lessons Learned as a Woman Consultant and Business Owner
As I look toward the next decade of consulting, nonprofit leadership, and business growth, I’ve been reflecting on lessons learned and what comes next after nearly 30 years of in business and nonprofit leadership. In the coming years, I hope to focus this blog more towards mentoring the next generation of women leaders in business and the … [Read more...]
The Book that Changed My Professional Life Like No Other
Can you point to ONE thing (a book, a person, a workshop, etc.) that made you better at your job, or even a better person? Although there are many wonderful fundraising books available these days, my all time favorite book, one that changed the way I work, is The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. NOTE: I'm not receiving any … [Read more...]
Want to Raise More Money for Your Nonprofit? Learn to Say “No”
The number one complaint I hear from development directors is that they don’t have enough time to do their job. They have too many responsibilities and not enough hours in the day. Sound familiar? What if you could say “no” to some of the things currently on your to-do list? People-Pleasers Lose Productivity One common character … [Read more...]
How Well Are You Paying Your Nonprofit Staff?
How well (or poorly) are you paying your staff members? Could they make more money working at the local Target or fast-food restaurant? If so, you’re not paying them enough! A History of Underpaid Nonprofit Staff I’ll never forget working at my first fundraising job at a domestic violence shelter, more than twenty years ago. The staff -- … [Read more...]
Empowering Women Fundraisers to be Stronger Nonprofit Leaders
When I was in graduate school (more than 20 years ago) I wanted to be the CEO of a big, international nonprofit. I took my first fundraising job because I knew that fundraising was one of the keys to successful nonprofits. In other words, if I was going to be an impactful CEO, I would need to know how to raise money. The same is true for … [Read more...]
4 Strategies to Better Manage Your Nonprofit Board in 2024
If you're a nonprofit leader, managing your board is likely a challenge. Although most nonprofit boards technically manage the ED/CEO, there’s a lot of opportunity and rationale for managing up. If you don’t work to manage your board, your board members may become unruly and make your organization more difficult to lead. It’s important to … [Read more...]
8 Ways Men Can Support Women in the Nonprofit Sector
Last week, I wrote about women supporting women in nonprofit leadership. If you haven't read that yet, give it a quick look. This week, I wanted to shift the focus to men. (Truthfully, both articles apply to all genders, but I’ve tried to highlight some places where specific support in one area or the other would be especially … [Read more...]
Calling All Women: Supporting Other Women in Leadership Matters
It’s no secret that strong women leaders are often looked upon negatively and as aggressive. It’s a no-win situation. So, when you see this happening, stand up. Make every attempt to encourage other women, even when you may not agree with them 100%. Let them know you’ve got their back. Why Supporting Women in Leadership Matters I sit on … [Read more...]
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