Blog
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How to Transform your Organization
The number one way to transform your organization financially is to engage people one on one and to invite them to champion your organization. Something happens in a one-on-one conversation…
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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…