I recently joined a meeting with a new client that is about to embark on his first capital campaign. He asked a great question, “What do you wish you would’ve known before your first capital campaign?”
Hindsight is usually 20/20 so I was grateful for this great question and the ability to help this client avoid some preventable pitfalls.
A few tips came to mind:
Topics: Capital Campaign, Goals, Financial Development, Capital Fundraising, finance, financial management
We raised $5.7 million.
OR
We raised $5.7 million!
Why does one character change that statement so much?
Topics: Leadership, Goal Setting, Mission, Goals, Financial Development, Vision, strategic planning, Metrics
Plans are important, but they’ll never work unless you take action.
This month, the DBD team will be sharing ways for you to jump start your work in 2022.
Topics: Goal Setting, Goals, Vision, Planning, Execution, Data Management, Nonprofit, Take Action
Plans are important, but they’ll never work unless you take action.
This month, the DBD team will be sharing ways for you to jump start your work in 2022.
Topics: Donation, Goal Setting, Goals, Nonprofit Leadership, Volunteers, Case Statement, Planning, Fundraising Campaign, Communication, Donor, Nonprofit
I’m nominating Alice S. for “Fundraiser of the Year.”
Topics: Success Stories, Donation, How To Ask, Art Of The Ask, Professional Development, Goals, Making The Ask
A few times a day, my Apple watch reminds me to breathe. Like many, I googled this feature when I started receiving these notifications at the most inconvenient times. Before I can hit dismiss, my watch steals my attention and I am momentarily captured as the animated flower fills the tiny screen and slowly expands and contracts.
Topics: Leadership, Goals, Nonprofit Leadership, Personal Development, Communication, Attitude, Happiness, Clarity
By Bruce Berglund and Jan Brogdon
Too often, major gift efforts are confined to the framework of a campaign. We ask for these gifts when we have a goal, but we really don’t work to cultivate those major gift donors between and before campaigns. In a time where capital campaigns were slowed or even stopped, some organizations used 2020 to grow a deeper connection with major gift donors. How can the learnings from their experiences, and yours, shape the way you move forward from here?
Any of you that have worked with us know that we believe Case, Leadership, Prospects and a Plan are the key elements of successful fundraising. Consider how you can use this structure as you analyze your own situation.
Topics: Leadership, Learning, Donation, Major Gifts, Case For Support, Asking, Goals, Nonprofit Leadership, Case Statement, Fundraising Campaign, Gift Of Giving, Covid
How ironic is it that a year of forced isolation has actually provided us the ability to connect with each other in a deep, meaningful and global scale?
“How are you doing?” has shifted from a casual greeting to a meaningful invitation to connect through a common, shared experience.
Topics: Leadership, Grit, Gratitude, Goals, Nonprofit Leadership, Communication, Relationships, Nonprofit, Happiness, Covid
If you’re part of an established nonprofit, faith-based organization, or school, you’re very familiar with fundraising goals. If you’re part of the leadership of such an organization, you may have even been part of setting those goals.
Topics: Leadership, Annual Campaign, Goal Setting, Goals
A lifetime of personal and professional goal setting has taught me that it is critically important to properly define success before setting goals or making resolutions.
Topics: Leadership, Resolution, Goals