Fundraising: The Music and The Notes
I’ve been trying to teach myself how to play guitar on and off for the past three years. I don’t read music. I didn’t grow up in a musical family. I don’t sing (except for off-key but energetic Bob Seger karaoke riffs on rare occasions). But something happens when I practice the guitar.
The analytical side of my brain is frantically trying to remember how to position the fingers of my left hand to make a ‘G’ chord. Developing the muscle memory for the seemingly infinite combination of six strings and however many different fret combinations is daunting. To me, this part of the practice feels like work. It’s memorization and repetition for both mind and muscle.
On rare occasions, though, I can hear what sounds a little like actual music. It gives me a rush and makes me want to play more. I might even find myself nodding my head, moving my shoulders into the picking, or smiling. This is when the practice feels more like art.
Often, I’m asked to provide proven fundraising principles to a group of board members or a nonprofit staff team. Even though I try to weave in stories with the fundraising best practices, I suspect that many people are in their heads, trying to figure out how to hit the notes. This might be like me having a visit with my guitar instructor. It’s helpful, but I really don’t improve until I practice.
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Topics:
Leadership,
Fundraising,
Nonprofit Staff
Leading With Fresh Eyes
Whether your organization’s development office is a one-man show, mid-sized, or a mega shop one thing is for certain: leadership is everything! As you look at your 2023 goals, evaluate the way you’ve been leading with fresh eyes to assess where you might need to strengthen or encourage your team.
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Topics:
Leadership,
Fundraising,
Nonprofit Staff
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Plans are important, but it's the action that makes the plan a reality. This month, the DBD team will be sharing ways for you to jump-start your work in 2023. |
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Topics:
Fundraising,
grants,
grant writing
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Plans are important, but it's the action that makes the plan a reality. This month, the DBD team will be sharing ways for you to jump-start your work in 2023. |
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Topics:
Board Management,
Leadership & Boards,
board governance
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Plans are important, but it's the action that makes the plan a reality. This month, the DBD team will be sharing ways for you to jump-start your work in 2023. |
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Topics:
Stewardship,
Fundraising
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As the year comes to and end, we are highlighting our best posts and the nonprofit practices that we should all carry into the new year. |
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Topics:
Fundraising,
Capital,
Best of DBD
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As the year comes to and end, we are highlighting our best posts and the nonprofit practices that we should all carry into the new year. |
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Topics:
Leadership,
Fundraising,
Best of DBD,
finance
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As the year comes to and end, we are highlighting our best posts and the nonprofit practices that we should all carry into the new year. |
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Topics:
Donor Stewardship,
Stewardship,
Fundraising
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This month we're discussing a few core approaches that we can use to prepare for next year. |
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Topics:
Leadership,
Culture