CDOs are always looking for ways to monitor, evaluate, and improve MGO performance, but the absence of industry benchmarks makes this task challenging. To meet the growing demand for industry-wide MGO performance data, our Philanthropy Leadership Council experts asked 132 major gift officers from 40 institutions to tell us about their activities and performance. This … Continue reading The Truth About High-Performing Major Gift Officers
Top 10 ways to make better decisions
Decisions, decisions! Our lives are full of them, from the small and mundane, such as what to wear or eat, to the life-changing, such as whether to get married and to whom, what job to take and how to bring up our children. We jealously guard our right to choose. It is central to our … Continue reading Top 10 ways to make better decisions
The Janitor Who Helped Put a Man on the Moon
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy visited NASA for the first time. During his tour of the facility, he met a janitor who was carrying a broom down the hallway. The President then casually asked the janitor what he did for NASA, and the janitor replied, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.” Take … Continue reading The Janitor Who Helped Put a Man on the Moon
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
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
Secure more funding – Charity Excellence Framework
On 15th June 2020, I took part in the first PyroTalks NanoConference and presented ResourceRush - a six minute run through resources to help you through the current pandemic. Here is part 2 of the key resources shared. The Charity Excellence Framework is a comprehensive online resource to provide you with the tools to create … Continue reading Secure more funding – Charity Excellence Framework
Fundraising Coach Gift Range Calculator
Irrespective of whether you are calculating gift ranges for an overall target or for an ad hoc campaign, gift pyramid calculators are very useful in estimating the number of gifts, donors and prospects required to meet your goal. Here is a useful online gift pyramid calculator by The Non-Profit Academy http://giftrangecalculator.com/
Love in the time of COVID-19: How empathy can strengthen a business
Often derided as being of little tangible value, with the very term ‘soft skill’ being viewed as laughable, empathy is not always considered vital to business activity. But in reality, empathy packs a punch that few might expect, and can actually help to strengthen a business. Compassion and understanding can help put employees at ease; … Continue reading Love in the time of COVID-19: How empathy can strengthen a business
16 Fundraising Success Metrics to Start Tracking
Measuring performance is a crucial step that nonprofits must take to succeed. There’s no better way of isolating and troubleshooting any ongoing problems. And worry not, there’s no shortage of methods of measuring performance. They’re called fundraising success metrics here, but they are also often referred to as key performance indicators (KPIs). These metrics are … Continue reading 16 Fundraising Success Metrics to Start Tracking
Propper Fundraising 