Insider advantage vs. association management expertise: the choice is not always obvious. With the economy beginning to surge (slightly), nonprofit CEO recruitment has become the subject of questions I have received. Selection committees are seeing attractive job applicants well-experienced in managing nonprofit associations, but who have little or no professional credentials in the association’s specialty. [...]
View PostHome» Home fundraising and nonprofit organization management
Fundraising strategy choices require focus
An inquiry through one of my websites brought about a consultation covering a dilemma many nonprofit leaders have faced — how to scale-up a nonprofit organization with no money, no staff, no work-force of volunteers, and no board members willing to roll up their sleeves and work. A brief discussion with the executive director brought [...]
View PostFinance nonprofit organization growth for financial stability?
A conversation about diversifying small nonprofit organization funding for success A leader of an organization came to me a few days ago with a problem many small nonprofits face. With a staff of about five and almost no staff time or financial resources to spare, this leader wanted to move the organization into new areas [...]
View PostNonprofit organization strategic planning? Yes, when it counts.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a believer in strategic planning. Especially when strategic planning and resultant plans are used to build true operational plans which then tie into and ground budgets in reality. That’s the overall planning scenario I recommend and prefer to use in advising or managing a nonprofit organization’s board and staff. So it [...]
View PostCompetency, Leadership Skill, and Charisma
A successful association leader and I were visiting recently when the topic of “charismatic” nonprofit executives came up. We discussed seeing numerous employment ads for executive director where in almost every one “charismatic” seemed to be the key qualification sought. It was a timely discussion. I mentioned a recent conversation with an executive recruiter. The [...]
View PostCharity fundraising auction event: seven hints for success
I received a request from a journalist for my top six hints for a successful charity fundraising auction. I told her my recommendations would vary a bit based on the size of fundraising auction and whether the host was managing with volunteers or had hired the services of professional event managers to run part or [...]
View PostLeadership versus Management
There seems to be confusion about leadership versus management of organizations, as I hear people talk about improving effectiveness of nonprofits. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings in the context of nonprofit organizations. Simply put: leaders lead and managers manage. The leader focuses on people, vision and strategy, while the [...]
View PostFundraising Events Must Offer Something for Everyone
A well-run auction fundraising event offers something for everyone, with a goal for everyone to have fun. Something is always going on to see or do. The event’s main attraction is the live auction. An effective auction unfolds like a staged play, with a cast of characters and an audience. Auctioneers, spotters, runners, and models [...]
View PostIncrease Fundraising Success
Tailor Fundraising Events to Match The Character of Attendees and Host Resources Some organizations’ fundraising events may do well while fundraising events held by other organizations in the same city may do poorly. Event planners may do everything they can think of to imitate successful organizations’ fundraising events, but what appears on the surface at [...]
View PostFundraising Jobs: Turnover and Retention
The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently ran an article on fundraiser turnover by Holly Hall. It seems surveys are underway to shed light on the issue of fundraiser recruitment and retention. Executive directors and board members often have expectations about a fundraiser’s ability to raise funds that are not met, so fundraisers may come and go [...]
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