You’ve been to that cocktail party where you’re having a great conversation about “that” thing – that thing you both agree drives you crazy/makes you happy/tears your heart apart/have a fully belly laugh – and in the moment that follows, you look at each other and realize you’ve just shared a moment with another human…
DetailsA boy and his mummy are holding hands on the walk to school on a bright, sunny morning. Mummy breathes a small sigh of relief that today is not the morning he is suddenly to old to reach for her hand. Every day, this is a precious gift, she thinks. She brushes these thoughts away…
DetailsTwo words that send eyeballs rolling, directors scurrying, donors yawning… I’ve talked to fundraisers who would rather shine the leather shoes of the world – twice! – than work on their annual report for their charity. I don’t blame them. Most of them are boring. Like – soul destroyingly boring. But they don’t have to…
DetailsThis post could also be referred to as “The Empire Strikes Back”… but I heard that was already used somewhere. Nonetheless, we (Rory Green and John Lepp) are back with a new post to our Star Wars series! The concept was simple. Let’s use a story that many, many people of all walks are familiar…
DetailsGuest post from The Godfather of Good, David Love: A year ago, I used this precious space to rail against the blizzard of dull, boring requests for money that didn’t take the time to recognize I was a monthly donor. I was about to rail again, this time about the blizzard of dull, boring requests…
DetailsThe end of year ejaculation of charity mailings, eblasts and commercials has reminded this donor and direct marketer that the success or failure of your year end fundraising can and will come down to one thing. The story you tell. I love siting in board rooms watching people get all angry and sweaty arguing over…
DetailsMy dad once sent me a Rice Krispie Square with one bite taken out of it. I knew his handwriting immediately on the puffy, oddly shaped, crinkled envelope. It looked like it had been pulled through a hedge backwards. I smiled. I opened the envelope and the tasty treat dropped in my hand. Written on…
Detailswith apologies to my colleague Ligia who got this post rattling around in my brain, i wanted to share part of our conversation. she said to me – and i will paraphrase – a lot of executive director’s and development staff are terribly afraid of innovation and creativity but that’s exactly why i want to…
DetailsWe’ve all seen this. The traditional donor pyramid. We find it presented at sessions and read about it on blogs. And it’s broken. It doesn’t work anymore. It forces organizations to focus on one thing. Money. ‘You give us one, tiny, crappy gift a year? To the bottom you go!’ I’ve talked to directors of…
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