 Steffani Lautenschlager, MEd, CFRE, Senior Consultant
In this season of gratitude, it’s good to remember that one size does not fit all when it comes to stewardship. Gary Chapman wrote, “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts,” which describes how each of us have a preferred way that we give and receive love. When your partner or friend speaks your love language you automatically deepen the connection to that person. You pay attention more. You engage more. You give more of yourself. So much of this is also true for our relationship with our donors. We often talk about how we need to love on our donors, but we don’t always take the time to think about or even ask what their preference is in our approach to stewarding them. It’s important for us to pause and think about how we share our gratitude with donors, especially during this time of thanksgiving. If we approach our stewardship as a one size fits all, we will miss the chance to truly let people understand their full impact on our nonprofits and community. Chapman identified these 5 love languages:
When thinking about how we steward our donors, we could correlate these 5 love languages to mean:
Relationships that last are complimentary to one another. It’s not one sided. It’s not “all about me.” The ones that consider how the other person receives love have long-lasting and happier relationships. Identify ways that your nonprofit can stand out by sharing your gratitude in the way your donors each separately receive it. Yes, I recognize this takes a lot of time, but it also is important intentional time that will benefit your organization year after year with retention and increased giving. Practice on your colleagues, by finding out their love language and using it to show appreciation for their commitment to your organization. Then move on to your top give donors and beyond. Let us know what you experience and how it makes you feel. Sharing gratitude in your donor’s love language will grow them closer to your mission and will fill you with joy as well! Questions on donor stewardship? Contact Let’s Build Hope today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmersOfHope #LoveLanguages #DeeperRelationships #ShowAppreciation #Thanksgiving #Gratitude
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 Beth Jantz, Consultant, GrantsPLUS
We all know that we should love on our individual donors, right? If you are on top of you game, you may even have a moves management process to make sure you are consistently building relationships with your major donors and bringing them closer to your mission. But even if you have a flawless moves management process for individual donors, you might be leaving your biggest donors out in the cold! Foundations and corporations are often the largest contributors to our organizations, and yet we tend to neglect them. Often, development officers think that the only time they need to talk to their funders is when they submit the grant, send the tax letter, and submit the final report. There is a big problem with that kind of thinking: behind every funder, there is a person administering it. In the same way individual donors aren’t ATMs, neither are foundations. Imagine how much more warmly your grant proposal will be received if the program officer reading it knows you and your organization as more than just words on the page. If you put the time and effort into cultivating a relationship with your institutional funders, you will see their commitment to your organization grow. Grant writing is fundraising, and fundraising is all about relationships! So, what can you do to build relationships with your funders?
Overwhelmed yet? Don’t be! If you add funders to your moves management process, implementing this process will be a snap. You will be one of the few organizations that does, and you will stand apart from the crowd. A strong relationship with a foundation or corporation can pay dividends for your organization for years to come. Grant makers are often our biggest donors, and it’s about time we started treating them that way! Want to chat about your grants and foundations strategy? Contact us – we want to hear from you: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmersOfHope #DontNeglectYourBiggestDonors #Grants #Foundations  Linda B. Haley, President & CEO
There’s nothing like the end-of-year push to the goal to get your heartrate up, is there? Hopefully, you’re just a few thousand away from reaching the pinnacle – the point at which you can rest – for at least a moment – in the knowledge that you’ve completed your main task as a fundraiser. You. Hit. The. Goal! If you’re like most successful chief fundraisers, you are competitive…you drive to succeed. You enjoy the thrill of the chase, the rush of the ask, and the satisfaction of hitting the number. But to be truly successful, we all must learn (and then regularly remember!) that fundraising is NOT a one-person job. It takes the full team – staff, board, and donors – to truly achieve fundraising greatness…to raise the dollars that will make your nonprofit and its mission remain viable year after year. That’s especially true at year’s end. If you’ve been giving your board and senior staff monthly updates on your progress to goal (tell me you have!?!), then no one will be surprised that pushing over the top at year’s end will be necessary. Those last few dollars are part of the team’s commitment to ensuring that EVERY needed (and budgeted) dollar is raised. To ensure success, here are a few tips: 1) make sure you build an “over the top” effort into the plan at the beginning of the year so you won’t be scrambling in June or December; 2) do not let desperation slip into your appeal, whether live, written, or digital – invite people to help you reach the solution, not rescue the sinking ship; and 3) pull reports that help you find folks who are about to “lapse” and inspire them to join you once again before the year is over. End-of-year work can be scary…but exciting, too. Be well prepared. Share the load with the full team. Have solid strategies in place. And drive, drive, drive to get OVER THE TOP! Need help ensuring you hit the number in the next FY? Contact Let’s Build Hope – we want to hear from you: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmersOfHope #OverTheTop #HitTheNumber #YouGotThis!  By Beth Krumm, MEd, Senior Consultant
This month we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, recognizing the contributions that volunteers to our organizations make. They volunteer because they care about our missions, the positive changes our organizations are having on the world. They believe you matter, often showing that by not only giving of their time but of their philanthropy. So how are you showing them that they matter? Whether you have a few volunteers or a large volunteer program, there are simple ways to show them that you genuinely appreciate them. Here are just a few to consider: Volunteer Appreciation Event: While it may need to be virtual this year, think about ways to hold an event for your volunteers. Hire a special guest performer, or a speaker who can talk about an aspect of your program. Even if you can’t be together in person, a Zoom toast and words of thanks from the head of your organization is always a nice touch. Thanks from those who you serve: Send a video of the children you serve saying thank you, a recipe book filled with recipes the seniors you take care of compiled, or a piece of artwork that an emerging designer created. Handwritten Cards: Invite your team, and perhaps those you serve, to write notes of appreciation to your volunteers. Their heartfelt words about how that volunteer is making a difference in their life is priceless. Photo Book: Create a photo book that shows the work you do and highlights the volunteers that are helping carry it out. Photo sites like Snapfish or Shutterfly make it easy to design and print quickly. While we engage our volunteers throughout the year, let’s make this month an extra special one for them. This month is about remembering the value of each individual volunteer and the power of their collective efforts in improving our communities. Looking for more ways to connect with your volunteers? Let’s Build Hope can help! Call us at (314) 716-2496 or email LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmersOfHope #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #PowerOfMany #ShareThatYouCare!  By Dawn M.S. Miller, CFRE, Vice President – Annual Fund
Years ago, I received a giant padded envelope in the mail with a lunchbox as a gift. Confused, I found a generic “Thanks” card tucked inside. I had recently given a gift in honor of a dear friend who had earned her Doctorate in Management and Leadership. The donation was in support of a college scholarship fund for single mothers earning their degrees – something I knew my friend would sincerely appreciate. But here’s the thing…I had no idea why the college mailed me lunchbox. And I also had no idea why the college NEVER notified my friend that a gift was made in her honor. Did they serve lunch to the mothers with scholarships, and I now had a matching lunchbox? Was I supposed to give the lunchbox to my friend with a pudding cup and juice box? Or was someone cleaning out a closet and thought, “Hey, let’s get rid of these lunchboxes, and we’ll call it a donor stewardship move.” Why am I telling you this? Because donor stewardship needs to make sense to the donor and connect to your mission! As fundraising professionals, we talk a lot about donor stewardship. Sometimes we do well; others, well, not so well. Here are a few wins and misses we’ve seen… Stewardship wins:
Stewardship misses:
We aren’t talking about spending a gazillion dollars here. We are talking about reminding donors that we really care about their involvement with our missions. So add a small line item into your budget for stewardship and add it into your workflow. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it connects to your mission in a meaningful way. And for goodness sake, if you send a lunchbox to someone, tell them how it connects to your mission. Your donors will thank you and they’ll enjoy their lunch while knowing their support truly impacted your mission. It’s that simple! At Let’s Build Hope, we love to hear the good (or bad…or ugly!) donor stewardship stories. Share them with us. Reach out via phone or send us an email. And let’s make sure we have (mostly) stewardship wins. 😊 #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmersOfHope #StewardshipWins #NoStewardshipMisses #Gratitude #DonorStewardship  By Linda B. Haley, CFRE, President & CEO
Philanthropy means “the love of human beings”…so nonprofit work is rooted in love. If your heart doesn’t skip a beat when you think about the nonprofit mission you support, ask yourself one simple question: “Why not?” Maybe it’s a deep personal issue – maybe something like, “I really love nonprofits that serve kids…but the paycheck at the large arts organization was so great, I just had to take it.” Or maybe you needed a job and took what was available, only to feel later that, although the mission you support is worthwhile, it doesn’t personally excite and inspire you. Is your heart longing for a clearer execution of the mission? More vision? A balanced budget? A passionate board? A CEO with exceptional leadership skills that you could happily follow? If any of this resonates with you, then it may be time for a change. Yes, change is hard. But if your heart is not squarely rooted in the mission of the nonprofit you serve, you may find yourself struggling. Struggling to raise funds. Struggling to inspire donors. Struggling with burnout. Just struggling. So often in our Annual Fund Training Camp, attendees come to us after class after we discuss having your heart in the mission and confess, “I think I may need to get another job.” If that’s true for you today, don’t lose heart. We all make snap judgments…or moves that we regret…or choices that no longer align with our personal values. Just remember: it’s never too late to do the right thing. Search your heart. Find what moves you. Then begin to look for a place where your heart, your soul, and your passion are excited by the mission. You’ll likely find your success there, too! Need help finding that next step? Or searching for a new development officer who is truly inspired by your work? Contact Let’s Build Hope – we want to hear from you: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmersOfHope #MyHeartIsInTheMission #InspiredToday!  By Sarah Melinger, Senior Consultant
Ah, hello old friend consistency! Where have you been? It’s been SO hard to be steady in this crazy year. To cope, we have probably all let many things go and have not been consistent in many areas. But things are constantly changing, and we must change with them. I am looking forward to getting reacquainted with my old friend! Consistency is what drives real progress. A person must take an action many times to experience real growth and real movement. Malcolm Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours of practice to be great at something – can you imagine having 10,000 hours to spend on one activity? Most of us do not, but we can all benefit from trying to improve our efforts to be consistent. As important as consistency is to each of us in our personal lives, it is equally or more important when interacting with our cherished donors. Growing a deeper relationship with a donor or board member requires being consistent in your engagement. Donors want to know how you are doing and how the organization is doing…they want to hear from you! To increase consistency with donors? Have a plan! Do not let it be an afterthought as you scramble to incorporate new ideas – rather create dedicated action that has meaning. Spend time looking at the coming year with your team and think about creative ways to engage with your donors. A phone call of thanks from a program director? A handwritten note? A streaming video via text or email about the work your organization is doing? A small hand-delivered gift to your top supporters with a love note attached? Just think of the fun you AND your donors can have! If you have a plan, you will remember to prioritize staying connected. Know, too, that you’ll receive tangible benefits from this consistent interaction. It’s probable both your donors’ connection to and love for the mission will grow…and with that growth, you’ll likely see increased giving! Try a dedicated stewardship plan for this year and see if being consistent does help you deepen your relationships with your donors. You’ll be glad you reconnected with your old friend consistency – and so will you donors! Looking for ways to stay consistent with your donors and in fundraising? Contact Let’s Build Hope – we want to hear from you: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmersOfHope #DonorsAndConsistency #ConsistencyIsKey!  By Dawn M.S. Miller, CFRE, Vice President – Annual Fund
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. If you have a July-June fiscal year (as do the vast majority of nonprofits), the budgeting process begins as early as February, which means all fundraising planning has to be complete before budgets are finalized, usually in mid-spring. But budgets should NEVER drive annual fundraising projections. How often do we hear that the Finance Office has provided the fundraisers with a magical number to raise? All the time! Does that make sense? Nope, not at all! Fundraising is not some sort of magic pixie dust we throw in the air to make money start falling from the sky. We must be careful planners, and this begins with annual planning. Fundraisers need to vet their donors and numbers before including them in the budget. It’s not as simple as saying, “We can grow 10%, 15%, or 20% this year.” We need to see the path to those donors and dollars. There’s no guessing here – strategies and data must always back up the fundraising goal. That’s why the annual planning process is essential. Set aside 1-2 days each February-March for a planning session with your development team – volunteers included! Try to go offsite so you can focus solely on planning – no distractions. Discuss all the development strategies used over the past year. Look at the 2–3-year trend lines too. Evaluate each strategy, rating it to decide if it is a good use of fundraising time and effort. Keep the good stuff that raises more dollars and retains more donors, and decide which initiatives might not be working for your nonprofit anymore. If you find a golf tournament grosses $100,000, costs $45,000, takes 800 staff hours, and the donor retention rate is 25%…you’ll need to have a hard conversation about whether to keep the event. You may find that a different fundraising strategy raises more dollars, builds stronger donor relationships, and is a better use of time. Just think…if you spent those 800 hours with your major donors, would you raise more money for your nonprofit? YES! We must remember…as professional fundraisers, every hour of every day needs to be spent in the right ways to drive towards your fundraising goals and fund your mission. Anything that takes our eye off that goal should be re-examined during the annual planning session. At Let’s Build Hope, we love annual planning days. If you need some guidance about planning for your next fiscal year, call (314) 716-2496 or send us an email – we’re here for you! If you’re lucky, you might just see our happy dance in person! 😊 #LBH #LetsBuildHope #WhatsYourPlan #AnnualPlanning #Budget #FYPlanning #FundraisingStrategies #AnnualPlanningHappyDance  By Meredith Friedman, CFRE, Senior Consultant
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. You know where I am going with this: there’s no better time than February to show your Board members how much you love and appreciate all that they do for your organization. So bring your development team together to come up with a plan for how to “love on” all the people that love you and your mission. Whether it’s a box of chocolate-covered strawberries or a bag of conversation hearts with a handwritten note delivered to their doorstep, make sure you include a note that tells them how much they mean to you and your organization and what their dedication means for the mission. How else can you show love for your board? As consultants at Let’s Build Hope, one of the comments we hear most often from Board members is, “I don’t feel like I’m doing my job,” or “I’m not sure exactly what I should be doing.” Why not give the gift of clarity, too? Take this opportunity to update your Board Position Descriptions or Board Engagement Plan. Have conversations with each Board member about how they are feeling about their Board service. The extra love, attention, and thoughtfulness will help you build a long-lasting relationship. George Sand said, “There is only one happiness in this life – to love and be loved.” Let’s make sure we let our Board members know how much we love them. Their love (and ours!) will make our missions and hearts soar! Looking for ways to engage your Board members and love on them? Contact Let’s Build Hope today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #LoveYourBoard #LoveIsInTheAir!  By Beth Krumm, MEd, Senior Consultant
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. When Chad Henne came in as quarterback, it would have been easy to groan, give up, and say, “Well, I guess this is as far as we’re going to go this year.” Instead, Coach Andy Reid kept to his game plan, made a few adjustments, and the Chiefs will now be playing the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game next weekend. Fundraising can sometimes feel the same way. The annual fund mailing performed better than expected…your mid-level giving program grew by a decent percentage. You’re feeling good about how the year will end. But then the event that you relied on for a significant portion of your revenue had to be switched to a virtual event and didn’t raise what you projected. Or perhaps the donor you thought was going to make a major gift let you know it wasn’t going to come in this fiscal year. You may be inclined to throw up your hands and be thankful that you raised what you’ve raised. But now is the time to stay the course, stick to your game plan, make necessary and immediate adjustments, and relentlessly pursue your goal as a team. It isn’t over until the clock hits 0:00. As Patrick Mahomes tweeted following the Chiefs win, #HenneThingIsPossible. Go Chiefs! Go Fundraisers! Go Board Members! Go Senior Leadership! YOU can do this! Need expert fundraising guidance? Contact Let’s Build Hope today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #StayTheCourse #StickToYourGamePlan!  By Sarah Melinger, Senior Consultant
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. I think “beyond” is entirely appropriate in this case. We are beginning to see hope of being on the other side of Covid-19 – and fundraising is still occurring and will continue as we move forward. The questions continue to be, “How will we continue to approach this challenge? And can we turn it into an opportunity?” What this time has reinforced for me is the need for sincere connection. In the past I perhaps did not treasure that casual interaction at the grocery store or the chance meeting at the post office. And I certainly took for granted dinners with my family and friends. Now, I value each opportunity to interact with someone – whether a close friend or a stranger…a donor or a client. There are days when I am the cheerleader…and there are days when I need cheering on. I am ever so grateful to have connections in my life that allow me to be the giver and the recipient of support. As I look ahead, not into some crystal ball but into my heart, I think that successful fundraising beyond covid-19 will continue to focus on the need for and appreciation of true connections with one another. That just may be the tide that carries us as we overcome the challenges and embrace the opportunities that await us…beyond COVID-19. If you crave a sincere connection or need someone to be your cheerleader, call Let’s Build Hope: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #FundraisingBeyondCovid19 #SincereConnection #MovingForward #CheeringYouOn!  By Linda B. Haley, CFRE, President & CEO
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! From the nonprofit perspective, here are a few POSITIVE takeaways:
As we look to the brighter days 2021 will most likely offer us, let us all take a moment to embrace the lessons of this stunning year. Let’s remember the colleagues, donors, and friends who’ve stepped in to help. Let’s profusely thank them all as we move forward. And let’s stay connected and in tune with gratitude – for even in the toughest times, there is hope…and for that, we are thankful. Want to build more hope in 2021? Contact us: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GlimmerOfHope #2020LessonsLearned #BrighterDaysAhead #ReadyFor2021!  By Linda B. Haley, CFRE, President & CEO
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.” I’m talking about targeted, hard-hitting conversation about where YOU want to be in 10 years with your organization. Talks with a “SMART-goal” feel to them. Talks that make us feel a little scared…and a LOT excited. At Let’s Build Hope, we’ve started helping nonprofits identify and present a clear picture of their targeted, 10-year dreams to investment givers. If they can see a clear, 10-year impact, transformational donors are often willing to support an organization’s greatest operational needs. Donors want to see the impact. They want to see and feel that bright future. They want to help you get there. But you’ve got to define it first…in clear, measurable terms. Are you having an IMPACT? If not, consider having some power conversations with Board and senior staff. Who knows what you’ll find? Want to learn more about Impact Statements and how to have organization-changing conversations? Contact us: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #ChangeYourOrganization #DonorInvestment #TransformationalGifts #ImpactStatements #MakeAnImpact!  By Meredith Friedman, CFRE, Senior Consultant
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy It’s November…and that can only mean one things – Thanksgiving! I especially love the tradition of going around the table and asking family members to share what they are thankful for – it’s just wonderful. It causes me to think, though… shouldn’t we be showing appreciation for one another all year long? At our organizations, development teams may be having a similar discussion right now: how do we thank our donors this year? How do we shower love on them and let them know we truly are grateful? As we head into the holiday season, I would encourage you to ask your team these questions: how have we shown our gratitude this year? And have we done it throughout the year? Or is this a once a year “Thanksgiving thing”? If your team finds itself feeling a little underwhelmed at how you’ve shown gratitude this year, then now is the time to have the discussion about thanking donors consistently and well as you move forward. To do this? Create a new organizational Thanksgiving tradition. Take this time of thanks, when we all think about how grateful we are, to come up with your organization’s plan for showing gratitude to your donors throughout the year. Use this special time to make sure this new tradition includes a yearlong “Thanksgiving” calendar, spending dedicated time thinking about how and when you’ll thank your donors throughout the year. One thing I can guarantee: next year at Thanksgiving, you will be thankful you did it! Need some guidance creating a "Thanksgiving" calendar? Let’s Build Hope can help! Contact us today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #GiveThanks #GratefulHeart #Thanksgiving #LoveYourDonors  By Dawn M.S. Miller, CFRE, Vice President—Annual Fund
Ahhhh, the autumn season! The crisp fall air, pumpkin everything, and toasty sweaters that have been hidden for months in the closet. Those are a few of my favorite October things. Ask my kids and they’ll say fire pits and s’mores – with a heavy accent on the s’mores. I often wonder why we wait to pull out the s’mores until the fall season begins. Doesn’t everyone love a melted chocolate bar and burnt marshmallow smashed between graham crackers? So why wait until the cool air arrives to enjoy this tasty goodness? Just like a s’more…why wait to enjoy all the goodness that life has to offer? There is no season we can’t love with all our hearts, live with all our being, and share all our joy with everyone we meet. And at Let’s Build Hope, we can’t wait to build s’more hope throughout our community! We invite you to join us for a S’More Hope Happy Hour on Thursday, October 29 from 4:30-6:30pm at Shaw Park (Enterprise Pavilion). Gather for some delicious hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and great conversation with the Let’s Build Hope community. Colleagues from nonprofits, big and small, can network, learn from one another, and offer community support. We hope you’ll join us for s’mores and schmoozing. Please wear a mask and practice safe social distancing. Together, Let’s Build S’More Hope…while enjoying a s’more! To RSVP to the S’More Hope Happy Hour, please contact us: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #LetsBuildSmoreHope #HappyHour #PumpkinEverything #DontWaitToEnjoyGoodness  By Beth Krumm, MEd, Senior Consultant
Imagine you’re welcoming a new member to your family. You want them to feel at home right from the start, to come to family events, and maybe even bring their famous key lime pie to a party. New donors to your organization are a new family member. You want them to know how thrilled you are to welcome them to your organizational family. What opportunities there are to get more involved? How they can utilize their skills to help further the mission? A new donor welcome packet, if done well, is a great first step. It provides the building blocks to deepen the relationship between the organization and the donor. So what makes a good welcome packet? It’s Personal. Just as you wouldn’t want to address a family member as simply “Sister-In-Law” or “Uncle,” you don’t want to use the generic “Dear Friend” as the opening to the welcome letter from your Executive Director. Make sure you use the donor’s preferred salutation. Use pronouns like “you” and write in a conversational tone. It’s Brief. Remember, this is just the beginning of the relationship. Remind them what impact your organization is having, and if you can show that through a story, all the better. Focus on the positive, but try not to overwhelm the donor with all the facts and figures you have about your organization. It Provides Options. The more you can engage a donor at every level of your organization, the more likely they are to remain with you. Your welcome packet should include different ways that they can get involved with you – volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, giving clubs, and tours are just a few examples. It Encourages Feedback. As you begin this relationship with your donor, you want to engage them in conversation. Ask them to share why they chose to invest in your organization, offer to talk with them about a program area they are interested in, or invite them to follow you on social media. And of course, make it easy for them to get in touch with you by providing your contact information. Use your welcome packet to remind donors that they made the right choice when they chose to give to your nonprofit. Who knows, maybe your donor will bring a key lime pie to your next meeting! Need more guidance on what to include in your new donor welcome packet? Let’s Build Hope is here to help. Contact us today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #WelcomePackets #WelcomeToTheFamily  By Sarah Melinger, Saint Louis Fashion Fund Lead Consultant
You know that feeling you get when you drop off a load of items at Goodwill? That feeling of weight being lifted while simultaneously doing something that may help someone else? I love that feeling, and it led me to wonder: What if there were a “goodwill” for those emotions that weigh you down in a business setting? What if before every professional encounter, you “dropped off” your insecurity, your need to be right, and your desire to prove your worth? Well, I tried it. At first, it was hard. Just like the dress I couldn’t decide if I should hold onto (you know, that dress that may just fit or be back in style one day!) I struggled to decide if I could let these feelings go. What would happen? Would I risk shedding something I needed…or did I just think I needed them? Would I grip tightly to my need to be right or prove my worth? If I stopped constantly making sure everyone knew what I could contribute, what would happen? Well, you know what happened? I was asked to contribute more. When I gave others the space to shine and to feel heard and respected, I received so much more than I could have achieved by holding tight to my insecurities. Letting go allowed others to trust me and want to partner with me. They knew that I was approaching our work together with goodwill…that my goal was to do the best work possible. Just like releasing items I no longer use at Goodwill – I helped others, but I also really helped myself. So maybe, before that next meeting, consider making a “donation” of those emotions that are holding you back…and instead bring the goodwill. As always, Let’s Build Hope is here for you, ready to offer more goodwill. Contact us today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. #LBH #LetsBuildHope #BringTheGoodwill  By Linda B. Haley, CFRE, President & CEO
Hello, Let’s Build Hope Family! It’s hard to believe that two months have passed since we were moved into quarantine mode and forced to be away from family, friends, colleagues, and work. It’s been quite the ride! I’ve noted some interesting behaviors and concepts recently and thought I’d share a few insights that might help as you navigate our slow, steady, and careful return to whatever the new normal will be. 1. Fear – lots of people are afraid…very afraid. They’re afraid of getting the virus. Afraid of passing it to beloved friends, families, or strangers. They’re afraid we may not ever recover. Afraid to trust that things will be sane again any time soon. Afraid to die…and afraid to live. But we all know that making decisions based on fear rarely results in sound, healthy forward progress. I’d encourage you to take a “fear temperature reading” with yourself and your colleagues as you consider your reopening. Sharing together may help alleviate some of the fears that are likely unfounded or out of proportion. 2. Shame – boy, have I seen a TON of this! Shame for wearing masks. Shame for NOT wearing masks. Shame for even talking about reopening. Shame about NOT reopening. Shame about wanting to go out. Shame for missing friends. Shame for complaining, especially if you’re not on the front lines. Man. It. Is. Everywhere! Let’s all agree together to a few basic tenets:
Let’s try not to shame others for their choices…and not to feel or receive shame from others for ours. We’re all in this together…and we will get through! 3. Making decisions for others – as nonprofit leaders, we MUST make global decisions for those we lead. At the same time, individuals will have varying levels of “risk tolerance” and may have personal situations that allow for more freedom than others. Making decisions for everyone globally – in every situation – may not be the best option. Create choices for individuals when you can – with all the necessary safeguards in place – so that together we can succeed in returning to life after COVID-19. 4. Risk tolerance vs. risk aversion – Each person is wired differently for risk. Think about it – some people like to base jump off bridges; some like to stay home and do crossword puzzles! 😊 Nothing wrong with either activity – just a difference in personality and chemistry. The same is true when dealing with the COVID reopening. Some are healthy and risk tolerant and ready to “get back at it.” Others are more careful and cautious, thinking the inevitable “spike” in cases will come if we’re not careful…also, true. So how do we manage? Let each person decide based on the larger organizational guidelines you propose. It’s reasonable to assume that folks with lower risk tolerance will perform better from home, feel happier and safer, and be thrilled to be part of your team. Those with higher risk tolerance will be jazzed at the chance to get back to some sense of “normal” and will not be as bothered by the risk. A win-win for all! If you’d like to discuss your nonprofit reopening after COVID-19, reach out at (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. We’re here for you! #LBH #LetsBuildHope #FundraisingHope #COVID19 #TakeCareOfYourself  By Dawn M.S. Miller, CFRE, Vice President—Annual Fund
As I watched the morning news today, I couldn’t help to notice the words the anchors kept repeating: devastating, doom and gloom, death toll, recession, depression, job loss, not going back to normal, scared people, out of an abundance of caution, lockdown…Blah! What a way to get moving in the morning time! Rarely did I hear the words hope, light, inspiring, things are better, moving in the right direction, laughter, recovered and going home, more family time, etc. If “we’re all in this together” then we need some good news to share too. Listen, I’m no Pollyanna. I know things aren’t always happy and going well, especially during a pandemic and quarantine. In some ways it appears folks are addicted to hearing all the COVID-19 horror stories. And we all know that listening to hours of the news can send anyone down the rabbit hole. So where are the positive, uplifting stories? Perhaps they are within you. Today, try to be the good in the world. Banish the bad stuff and open your heart to the good stuff. Be a HOPER—a person who hopes and trusts that things will turn out for the best. Stop and smell the flowers. Laugh at all the Zoom meetings you attend, and someone is always muted. Make a homemade meal from your childhood. Use sidewalk chalk to share witty messages with your neighbors. Enjoy your all-day yoga pants while you can. Remember that coloring books aren’t just for kids. Pull out those old board games. Donate to your favorite nonprofit in honor of a healthcare worker. Make a list of things you are grateful for. Learn how to beatbox and entertain your family with clever mixes. Start a fairy garden so little children can play on their walks. Listen to music that soothes your soul. If you need a reminder of the good in the world, listen to Andrea Bocelli singing Amazing Grace on Easter Sunday by invitation of the Duomo Cathedral of Milan. Bocelli’s performance represents a message of love, healing, and hope to Italy and the world. For this, I am happy to shed a joyous tear. At LBH, we are HOPERS! Are you? As always, Let’s Build Hope is here for you and your nonprofit. Contact us if you need a bit of hope in your life today: (314) 716-2496 or LetsBuildHope@lbh-stl.com. And remember to believe and have courage--we can do this! #LBH #LetsBuildHope #BeAHoper #MusicForHope |
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