In the UK, for all the challenges we face, including (and because of) a culture where it’s still seen by many as crass or taboo to discuss money even in the context of giving it away to a worthy cause, the prospect research community has one resource that our counterparts elsewhere can only dream of: … Continue reading Companies House: a treasure trove of info on UK companies
Rethinking the Future of Donor Visits
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a “new normal” throughout the nonprofit sector, as it has for many other sectors. Frontline fundraisers in particular spend many hours traveling and meeting face-to-face with donors. The recent transition to remote learning and working has prompted many fundraising offices to pivot and learn how to conduct business by way … Continue reading Rethinking the Future of Donor Visits
5 Building Blocks of Great Advancement Talent Management
James Murphy shares: "One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is why our profession has such a high rate of turnover of professional fundraisers. I often hear that the average tenure in a job for a major gift officer is 18 months. A partial answer might be that as demand for good fundraisers has … Continue reading 5 Building Blocks of Great Advancement Talent Management
The default nonprofit board model is archaic and toxic; let’s try some new models
Board members are volunteers who contribute time, money, talents, connections, and even the occasional shoulder to cry on during challenging moments. We owe a lot to the brilliant board members out there who are helping us make the world better every day. However, we need to admit that boards in general are seriously problematic. For … Continue reading The default nonprofit board model is archaic and toxic; let’s try some new models
Meet the people – a lesson in asking the public the right question…
Understanding public opinion is always worthwhile but can be fraught with danger. David Kernohan examines the unexpected policy impact of a recent poll and discusses why a huge part of the art and science of survey design is choosing the right questions to ask. https://wonkhe.com/meet-the-people-a-lesson-in-asking-the-public-the-right-question/
How philanthropy benefits the super-rich
"Philanthropy, it is popularly supposed, transfers money from the rich to the poor. This is not the case." In the US, which statistics show to be the most philanthropic of nations, barely a fifth of the money donated by big givers goes to the poor. A lot goes to the arts, sports teams and other … Continue reading How philanthropy benefits the super-rich
How much do we really know about why we give to charity?
Charity has become big business, though it's hard to say how big: there's little good data. One recent study estimates the British, for example, donate 54p in every £100. That's three times more than the Germans but three times less than Americans give. This article from the BBC dives into the history of fundraising methods … Continue reading How much do we really know about why we give to charity?
The science of influencing people: six ways to win an argument
Psychological studies show that people fail to notice the logical fallacies in an argument if the conclusion supports their viewpoint; if they are shown contrary evidence, however, they will be far more critical of the tiniest hole in the argument. This phenomenon is known as “motivated reasoning”. A high standard of education doesn’t necessarily protect … Continue reading The science of influencing people: six ways to win an argument
How to Disagree with Someone More Powerful than You
Your boss proposes a new initiative you think won’t work. Your senior colleague outlines a project timeline you think is unrealistic. What do you say when you disagree with someone who has more power than you do? How do you decide whether it’s worth speaking up? And if you do, what exactly should you say? … Continue reading How to Disagree with Someone More Powerful than You
10 Ways to Make Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising More Social
Online fundraising is becoming more popular each year. It is offering new opportunities for nonprofits to improve their fundraising success while trying out new channels. As more people are inspired to donate online, social media can make an extremely useful addition to your fundraising strategy. It can help you reach a younger audience but also … Continue reading 10 Ways to Make Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising More Social
Propper Fundraising 