Glimmers of Hope Blog - Page 3 of 12

Fundraising Courage: How To Talk To Donors with Confidence

February 4, 2026July 6, 2026 Career Development

Fear shows up in fundraising more often than we might want to admit. I’ve been a fundraiser for almost 30 years, and I can still remember being absolutely terrified the first time I met with a donor. A little negative voice was whispering doubts to me: What if I stumble when I ask for a gift? What if the donor says no? What if I get fired if this doesn’t go well? What if the donor just doesn’t like me? What if, what if, what if…?

Decades later that little voice still pops up on occasion, although I’ve learned to push through anyway. As fundraisers, we’re advocating for people, for change, for our community, by just doing our jobs. Fear around fundraising doesn’t make you or me weak. It makes us human.

Fundraising Courage: How To Talk To Donors with Confidence

Fundraising Matters In The World!

January 22, 2026July 6, 2026 Career Development

Do you ever have a moment when you think, “I can’t do this?” In recent, unsettling days, I occasionally watch too much news or look at Facebook or LinkedIn and think, “How in the world am I going to make any kind of difference at all? What’s the point?”

And then…when I feel useless and ineffective…a client shares the story of someone’s life who has been changed or impacted by their growing mission. And I stop and realize that each person counts for SO much. Each day counts for SO much. I can’t save the whole world. I can’t solve all the problems. I’m not going to be everything to everybody.

Readiness Assessment Vs. Feasibility: Why Not Both?

December 2, 2025July 6, 2026 Campaigns

When gearing up to conduct a multimillion-dollar campaign, preparation is everything. CEOs and board members often question the need to invest time and money into a Readiness Assessment and a Feasibility Study. These tools can make or break your campaign. Ask your board if they would invest in a for-profit business that hasn’t done its homework…one that hasn’t talked with investors, or researched the infrastructure that will ensure success, or identified the tools and staffing needed to get it off the ground. The same goes for organizing a capital or comprehensive campaign.

Are You Crushing Your Fundraising Goals? There’s Still Time!

November 24, 2025July 6, 2026 Annual Planning & Strategies

38 days…just 38 days until December 31. My dear fundraisers, deep breaths. We’re all sprinting towards the end of the calendar year and stretching for our fundraising goals. What a year it’s been for nonprofits and funders. Am I right?!

Even with a year of ups and downs, it’s still a good idea to pause and ask yourself, “Is our fundraising strategy working as hard as we are?” If you aren’t crushing your fundraising goals, it’s not too late to course correct over the next 38 days.

So, You Want to Be an Executive Director…

November 12, 2025July 6, 2026 Career Development

Has this question ever crossed your mind? Maybe you’ve been working at a nonprofit for 10, maybe 20, years. You’ve led a successful development team or program team for at least half of that time. And you’ve watched two or three Executive Directors come through your organization. You think, “Yeah, I can do this.”

I love your confidence – that’s the first step to Executive Director success! Feeling called to lead a nonprofit organization to help make the world a better place is an equally important step. It’s truly admirable. However, what else should be considered when passion alone can’t sustain you forever?

Stay Human, Fundraisers: Resisting the Temptation of AI

November 7, 2025July 7, 2026 Career Development

As a seasoned grant writer, I’m all too familiar with the sinking feeling that a blank page can bring. That feeling is why using AI has become so tempting for writing and editing tasks: it promises to do away with that sense of dread and keep you moving along at a brisk pace, no pauses or long stares necessary.