Here are a few resources to get you started on your journey toward fundraising mastery. Looking for more? Contact us for a FREE initial consultation and to gain additional insights.
If you find yourself in the role of fundraiser for your organization, you could use a little good news: You have found the book you need to get started. That’s the first bit of encouragement. The second bit is this: You can do this!
Help! They Want Me to Fundraise! is for anyone new to fundraising. Perhaps you serve as a board member or other volunteer of a nonprofit that needs to raise money. Or maybe you're employed as the new development director or even as the executive director. It’s even possible that you worked with another organization in the past that raised money but you weren’t the one in charge. Now someone has asked you to step up to the plate and you’re not sure what this is going to require—or even if your organization is ready.
The Executive Director/Development Director Relationship | Fundraising Friends, Episode 1
What strategies improve this crucial relationship within a non-profit? What contributes to a successful fundraising campaign? Susan Black of Allene Professional Fundraising speaks with Laurie Lathan of Columbus Children's Theatre for insight. View episode...
AFP Conference Nuggets of Wisdom | FUndraising Friends, Episode 2
Join me as I hit the road to learn with friends at the 2015 Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference! View more...
The Executive Director/Board Relationship | Fundraising Friends, Episode 3
Do you struggle to maintain positive rapport with your board of directors? Michelle Heritage of Community Shelter Board shares insights on how to build and improve this crucial relationship. View episode...
Leaky Buckets | Fundraising Friends, Episode 4
Many small non-profit organizations are eager to make lofty goals before having the fundamentals in place. Susan speaks with Dr. Lisa Courtice, Executive Vice President of the Columbus Foundation about the importance of realistic goals, effective leadership, and meeting an actual need within the community. View episode...
Reflections on the OANO standards of Excellence Part 1
Like similar organizations across the country, the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations hosts a class called the Standards for Excellence Series that helps organizations prepare for and achieve the Standards for Excellence Accreditation. As a member of OANO’s Council of Consultants, I decided to audit the class to make sure I knew all about these important Standards. Read More...
Reflections on the Oano Standards of Excellence Part 2
The Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations hosts a class called the Standards for Excellence Series that helps organizations prepare for and achieve the Standards for Excellence Accreditation. Here are three more gems from the second part of the class that focused on boards and governance issues among many other items. Read More...
Help! They Want Me To FUndraise! Webinar
This is a great starting place for those who might be new to fundraising or who could use a refresher on some of the fundraising basics. Read more...
What are your expectations?
My husband and I both have strong personalities so making decisions and working together on tasks can be a challenge sometimes, even after nearly 20 years of marriage. Traveling is one area that’s especially problematic for us. On a recent camping trip I decided to employ a new approach, which seemed to work very well. Read more...
Observations From The Other Side
Over the last few months I spearheaded a special grant award process for my service club, the Kiwanis Club of Columbus. Wow, what an interesting perspective I’ve gained from sitting on this side of the fence! It’s given me a lot of food for thought and I’d like to share some of it with you. Read more...
Recruit, Train, Retain Part I
A 2013 study conducted by Compass Point Non-profit Services found that one in four Executive Directors were so unhappy with their Development Director that the last person to hold the job was fired; and more than half say they can’t find qualified people to fill the role. The interesting part of the study is that Development Directors felt the same way. Read more...
Recruit, Train, Retain Part II
You can increase the likelihood of fundraiser success in your organization by ensuring that you create a strong pool of candidates from which to choose. Ideally this pools should include candidates with a CFRE, a nonprofit management degree, or multiple years of fundraising experience. But if you can't find that person or can't afford that person, then do the next best thing: Read more...
Help! They Want Me To Fundraise! on Bloomerang
Explore the key building blocks to a successful fundraising program, as well as how to determine your organizations’ readiness to embrace fundraising and steps you can take to implement a fundraising program. View more...
Oh Those New Year's Resolutions!
As the E.D. of a non-profit, you may be thinking about your organization this month and wondering what you can do to make a bigger impact in the new year. Before you plunge into a makeover for your agency, however, I’d like to suggest that you start with yourself. Read more...
Susan on The Nonprofit Coach Radio Show
Susan unpacks the necessity of the CEO having community connectedness during and interview on the Ted Hart Nonprofit Coach Radio Show. Read more...
What To Do if It's Just You: Managing Your Board
Last time we talked about the importance of passion for development professionals who are in a one-person shop. I mentioned that sometimes passion may be the only thing keeping you going! Lack of passion may lead to burn out and burn out starts when we feel overwhelmed. That's easy to feel when you are by yourself. To avoid burnout when you are a one-person show, focus on two things: Read More...