Let’s begin with the Big Kahuna piece of advice: Ask yourself WHY you want to do this event. Were you to bring your event proposal to a wise shaman or mentor, this is the question they would ask you first – well before asking what theme or format you have in mind or what color scheme you want to use! And yet this is the one question I find nonprofits failing to ask.  Does anyone in leadership on your staff or board think either of these things? Events are an inevitable part of the diversified fundraising mix. Events are the primary way to generate awareness and funds. Events are neithe ..read more

It’s not always easy to find all the good stuff across the web. That’s why I do the work for you! Thanks again to my Clairity Click-it sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the time hunting and gathering. You’ll find this is another robust issue. Find a topic that interests you, and… click away!  Whatever type of learner you are, there’s something here for you. Tactical advice. Theory and science. New approaches. Stuff to read. Stuff to listen to. Stuff to watch. Per usual, I’d love to also share a bit of inspiration from the inimitable Seth Godin: Bottom of t ..read more

Radiance is meant-to-be. Radiance means: To have the light within us lit To send out light To reflect back light To bounce light back and forth, in simultaneous service to ourselves and others. What if you were to view your work as allowing your own and others’ meant-to-be radiance to come forth and shine? I’m reminded of a children’s gospel song, which also became a civil rights anthem: This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine, all the time, I’m going to let it shine. Out in the dark… Everywhere I go… All around the world… Hide it under a bushel? No! No one’s goin ..read more

  Get on the Pathway to Passionate Philanthropy, Not Forgettable Fundraising In Part 1 I laid out why philanthropy inspires, and fundraising tires. Fundraising must be done, of course, but there’s something about how it’s too often practiced that turns too many people off. It’s the “fund” part of the word. This makes people think it’s all about money, when really it’s all about valued outcomes. These valued outcomes are shared by many who care about the cause. Donors and non-donors. Employees and volunteers. Users and providers of services. Development departments and program department ..read more

Get on the Pathway to Passionate Philanthropy, Not Forgettable Fundraising   Philanthropy is a mindset. An embracing culture. A noble value. Fundraising is a means towards that end. Servant to philanthropy. Philanthropy, not fundraising. This has been the tagline for my business and blog since I began Clairification in 2011. It grew naturally out of my experiences working as a frontline development director for 30 years. I’ve always insisted that no single person could possibly receive credit for a donation.  “Donors don’t give because of development staff,” I’d tell program staff ..read more

Take some inspiration from the inimitable Seth Godin: If we’re restless, it pays to get up and walk around. Is stress different? Along the way, it seems as though we got confused about the best way to deal with the stress that comes from work and from the projects we work on. “Push through the stress and on the other side, everything will be okay.” Simply get all the details right, get an A, get into a famous college, make the sale, polish the logo, do the pitch and then… reassurance will follow. The reassurance of success or even survival. The reassurance of external acclaim or simply relie ..read more

Awareness alone is passive.   Do you wish you had a dime for every time a nonprofit board or staff member told you “We’re the best kept secret in town; if people knew what we do, they’d give to support us.” Nonprofits tell me this all the time! If I had all those dimes, I could make a nice contribution to your cause.  And I would, if… You endeavored to learn a little bit about me, You engaged me personally, You discovered my values match yours, You offered me opportunities to connect with your mission and supporters that involved something other than money, You showed me you knew w ..read more

I find a widespread misunderstanding about the notion of what constitutes being donor-centered. It derives from two misconceptions: Assuming people don’t want to be asked. Spending all your time on cultivation, assuming folks don’t need an ask and will simply give spontaneously as a result of being wooed. Both of these rationales short-change your would-be donors. Why? FIRST: Donors want to be asked because they’re starved for the love that comes from voluntary giving and receiving. Donors have love to give, but don’t always have an object towards which to direct their affection. SECOND ..read more

Today I want to remind you that part and parcel of your personal mission, as a philanthropy facilitator, is to bring supporters opportunities for meaning and purpose. Because when you help increase others’ sense of wellbeing, not only is the world a better place but these folks are more likely to demonstrate gratitude by giving of themselves. Meaning drives us to act with generosity and resolve. There is no substitute for this, not even happiness – the pursuit of which is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution). But is that really what it’s all about? If so, the U.S. is failing. Did you know thi ..read more

Ever have a well-meaning, yet perhaps overly controlling or risk-aversive, boss say to you: Our fundraising letter must be no longer than one page. That’s too simple; we don’t want to talk down to our donors. We need to say more about our accomplishments. We need to describe numbers of people served; that’s what’s impressive. That’s not how I talk. That’s not our corporate style. That’s not how we do things. That’s not what our donors are used to. That’s not proper grammar. That’s too gushy and effusive. I want happy, not sad, photos. Asking the r ..read more