Author: jonathanpoisner
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Short v. Long-term Development Plans
An organization has done a LOT of fundraising, but has never had a real development plan, either short or long-term. One set of consultants advised them to create a three-year…
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Planning half heartedly
I was recently talking to an organizational Executive Director who’s thinking about a strategic planning process. He wants the planning process to get his board more engaged. But he doesn’t…
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Growing your Facebook fan base
Sometimes investing a little bit of dollars has a big impact on your base. The good folks at Idaho Conservation League did an interesting strategy and let the folks at…
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Never ask for a donation
Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking about fundraising as an ask. Indeed, that’s the language I often use when I’m creating a fundraising plan or counseling…
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Communications plans for institutions
I recently had a conversation which went something like this. . . Person A: “We need a communications plan for our organization.” Me: “Why?” Person A: “We need to know…
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Some questions to ask before you hire staff?
My last post was about reasons to hire a consultant. I had a conversation yesterday with the Executive Director of a small nonprofit wrestling with the question of whether to…
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Keys to hiring a consultant
Okay, one key. Here’s something I kind of knew when I was hiring consultants, but really appreciate now that I’m wearing the consultant hat. It’s best to be explicit why…
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Paying attention to the institution
I was recently talking to somebody about an organization that from all outward appearances was thriving. They had expanded their programs and had gained recognition for having a real impact.…
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Why Wisconsin Matters
What’s happening today in Wisconsin and a few other states matters.  A lot. Taking away the rights of public employees to collectively bargain and form effective unions represents a threat…
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When strategy is left out of strategic planning
I’ve recently had a chance to read some strategic plans that seem to be missing a critical piece: strategy. They have mission statements, vision, goals, and tactics. But what’s missing…