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Re-Establish Relationships

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Re-Establish Relationships

In three recent conversations with executive director clients, the topic of re-establishing relationships was discussed. Our community is experiencing a shift in those taking leadership roles within our philanthropic landscape, plus the way people work, meet, and communicate has changed in recent years.  So, the need to go back to the basics of researching, identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors, collaborators, and board member prospects is top of mind to many nonprofit executives.

Because of that, I reached into our files to retrieve a handout that we provided in one of our Good Advice Over Coffee sessions held as part of our 25th anniversary and pulled the advice we provided on building a base of community support for your cause.

Plan For Your Board's Leadership Succession

Plan For Your Board's Leadership Succession

After thirty years of service to nonprofit leaders, our archives are rich in resources.  Last week I ran across a 2006 paper in our files from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) titled “Tips on Succession Planning,” and it really caught my eye.

Some principles of board engagement stand the test of time, including those that follow from that AFP article on board succession planning, which I happily share with you today, with only a few edited updates, this many years later!    

Survey Your Board Members and Ask For Specific Help

Survey Your Board Members and Ask For Specific Help

I have heard from many Executive Directors and Board Chairs over the years who share a common frustration. “We can’t get our board to do anything.  There is so much to accomplish for our mission, but we feel like we’re not getting help beyond attendance at meetings.”  My first thought in response is almost always, “but have you asked for specific help and if so, in what way?”.

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Build Relationships for Fundraising Success

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Build Relationships for Fundraising Success

I recently accompanied a client to a meeting with a fund manager at a national bank. The fund manager oversees several family foundations and community trusts based in Tarrant County, some of which had funded our client’s organization in the past. We wanted to meet so that the new Development Director could introduce herself, share recent updates, and get feedback on the grant process.  Over coffee, the fund manager encouraged her to apply to any trusts in her portfolio that seemed like a good fit for the organization’s mission and programs. Her strategy when reviewing applications was to review each application on behalf of the trust itself, not the bank. So, receiving multiple applications during the same grant cycle from the same organization was not discouraged. In fact, it was welcomed.

Develop Your Precious Volunteer Resources

Develop Your Precious Volunteer Resources

It is “high season” for our community’s nonprofit events, campaigns, and board meetings, which inspired me to pull this “Key Points Summary” regarding developing volunteer resources from a presentation I made a few years ago to our Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Chapter.  It is from the handout we provided to accompany Project Partners’ presentation titled “Volunteers.  You Can’t Live With Them.  You Can’t Live Without Them.”, one of my favorites.  (We know good things come to those who train!) Having served more than 250 boards, committees, and task forces, (and counting), I promise these principles stand the test of time and will help guarantee your success:

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