One look at the Let’s Build Hope calendars, and we know that fiscal year planning is nipping at our heels. Those of us who love planning are doing our happy dance. If you don’t love planning, you still need to make it happen, even if your happy dance is only a small jig.
Read MoreChocolates, and Flowers, and Teddy Bears…Oh My!
It’s February, and love is in the air. Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday. I think it’s great that there is a time set aside just so we can show our friends and family how much we love them. Many of us spend a great deal of time and put serious thought into figuring out the perfect gifts for loved ones.
Read MoreFundraising Beyond Covid-19…
Often in our roles as consultants we are asked, “What does fundraising beyond Covid-19 look like…what can we expect?” To determine what this meant to me I thought I should start by looking up the definition of the word “beyond.” The definition reads as follows:
Beyond – at or to the further side of; happening or continuing after.
Read MoreFootball and Fundraising – Stick to Your Game Plan!
Anyone who knows me well knows I am a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan. Honestly, I’ve been talking about them playing in the Super Bowl for weeks now. So when quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down with a concussion in last Sunday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns, my confidence in their reaching the Super Bowl decreased dramatically. I held my breath through seemingly every snap. The game plan was built around Mahomes – his ability to evade defenders, to see the entire field and find a receiver, to use his feet to gain the yards needed for a first down.
Read More2020 is Almost Over. Who’s Ready?
As much as we all disdain this painful and challenging year, maybe it’s important that we look at what we’ve learned and what’s been good. Wouldn’t want to waste a hard-earned lesson!
Read MoreWhat Impact Will YOU Have? Organization-Changing Conversations
Is there ever a moment when the Board of Directors and the senior staff at your nonprofit just sit and talk about your Disney-, Amazon-, Google-sized dreams?
I’m not talking about “annual retreats” during which we talk about shorter-term goals and objectives…or strategic planning sessions in which we create the approaches we’ll use to move forward. And I’m not talking about vision – those long-term, aspirational ideals. Visions are great…but even a $10 million dollar gift to operating is not going to “…end world hunger.”
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