…When I’m quoted saying “it’s a thing!” It was a beautiful privilege to be interviewed recently by the New York Times for a special section on Giving. Endless gratitude to my friend and fellow #donorlove champion Tom Ahern for making the introduction… Tom gave me great advice about preparing for the interview, which was, in a nutshell: think about…
It was the best story of the day. And there were many. My 94-year-old grandfather was a notorious storyteller. So the weekend of his funeral has been filled with memories, stories, laughs and tears. Just as a full life should be honoured… But the story that turned out to be my favourite was quite unexpected.…
Google says the definition of earnest is resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction. Not a bad definition for Ask Direct’s Fundraising Summer School last week, held in Oscar Wilde’s beautiful Dublin. My personal highlight reel of #ADFSS16 can be nutshelled with “earnest”. First, our curator. The one and only Damian. Summer School was…
I’ve been meaning to do this since our #DonorLove Rendezvous in May. And now that it’s road trip season, I’m calling on all you fabulous fundraisers to help build the ultimate #donorloveplaylist! Here’s a start. Please, comment and/or tweet to add your faves. Let’s make beautiful #donorlove inspired music together! Note: just like good direct…
She never calls me. We’ve worked together for almost 10 years and she’s never called me. She’s the kind of Executive Director who emails me to ask if we can talk for half an hour a week from Thursday at 2:30 sharp. So when Ruth called me the day after our appeal dropped, I immediately…
“Wahhhh! He bonked me on the eyebrow with his super pointy elbow!” “Did you in fact bonk her on her eyebrow with your super pointy elbow?” “Yes, but it was an accident! I was reaching for the maple syrup and she moved her eyebrow into where my elbow was already reaching first! And it’s not…
Data doesn’t lie. But it also doesn’t feel. We are students of direct response. It’s our job to create, test, tweak and analyze. That’s the science. But I love fundraising because it’s also an art. Moving and inspiring people to give, to act, to share the amazing work of your organization. Creating joyful philanthropic experiences…
What are you doing Thursday, January 28th at noon? Wait. Let me rephrase that. Whatever you are doing on Thursday, January 28th at noon can’t possibly be something better than an afternoon love affair! Join me as part of the #DonorLove webinar series to share a 5-year Case Study featuring the creative, storytelling and results…
“Pssst…Jen…do you like mussels?” It was Matt, the “fish guy” at our community market. And, as luck would have it, I had invited my parents for dinner that night and did not have a dinner plan. “My Dad goes bananas for mussels, but I have no idea how to prepare them. I’d love to get…
I get a lump in my throat when I think about the number of times I sat down and wrote “Dear Granny” on the top of a letter, card or postcard. We wrote each other letters for as long as I can remember and right up until she died. When I read her letters, I…