Recently I had an executive from a small nonprofit in Kansas ask me how to improve organizational sustainability in the New Year.  There have been a lot of predictions regarding how the new tax legislation will impact nonprofit organizations.  Some predict that it will be even more difficult to effectively raise money in the new financial Read More →

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If you have been raising money for any length of time, surely by now you will have been told ‘no.’  Sometimes a ‘no’ can be a major setback, especially if there is no Plan B in place.  Was it something I said?  Was it something I didn’t say?  What will happen to the project?  How Read More →

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Have you ever been trying to reach a donor and left a LOT of messages? I don’t mean “all in the same day,” that could be construed as stalking and no one wants that. I am referring to calling the same donor/prospect over and over without getting a return call. Perhaps you might call twice Read More →

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As the number of nonprofit organizations in the US continues to rise, so does the need to raise money for those organizations. From large, multi-national organizations to small local organizations, money is a critical need to ensure that programs get delivered and all regulatory and reporting requirements are met. So, as a board member, committee Read More →

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Have you ever had a donor get mad at you and/or your organization? I have and I can tell you that it is not fun. I do not like conflict or “drama” and so I don’t like having to deal with these situations. I have learned throughout the years, however, that it is always better Read More →

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There has been a big ruckus in the news over the past few days because of the alleged words of a certain owner of a California-based NBA team (it rhymes with “Flippers”). The comments made were very racially insensitive and denigrating. It is unfortunate that such views are still around in 2014. Rather than rehash Read More →

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Last weekend I was at a birthday party for a friend. I met a guy there who told me that I look like Samuel L. Jackson. Now, I am not really a “celebrity look-alike” guy. Back in the 80’s, my longtime friend Jeff Barkema swore that I looked like David Robinson, who was at that Read More →

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Many of us would not be where we are today if it were not for a hook up. It might be the friend of a parent who makes a call to get us into a competitive university. Perhaps we are trying to get admitted into an exclusive club and we call upon a member to Read More →

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I was having dinner with a donor recently when he lamented to me his frustration at only being contacted by organizations when they want to ask for money. Fortunately I was not there to make an ask at that time, but his feelings resonated with me. The relationship between donor and nonprofit organization is just Read More →

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As is my custom at the end of December, I have been reviewing my goals as well as my outcomes for the year. Since I also have a short attention-span, additionally I have been daydreaming and reviewing past years and decades. Yesterday my teenage son asked me ‘what some of my favorite TV shows were Read More →

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