Insights & Events

What Do I Really Want To Know?

Before each visit with a donor or a prospective donor, we should ask, “what do I really want to know?” . . . about their financial capacity? . . . about their interest in our mission or cause? . . . about their willingness to be generous? . . . about why they give? . . . about their business

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The Better Donor Relations Question

“What will our donor get when they make their gift?” In some advancement shops, the response to this question is something specific – a pair of socks, tickets to a football game, a naming right, a tchotchke. In other advancement shops, the response to this question is nothing specific.  A thank-you letter or a handwritten note will suffice. But in

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Persuasive vs. Manipulative

It is common for some in advancement to hear the word, “persuasive,” and think, “manipulative.”  But, the two are very different. When we aim to be persuasive, we: are ethical, transparent, factual, and logical; seek fair, win-win outcomes with others; respect people’s rights and responsibilities to choose for themselves, based on what they believe, feel, and think is best. But,

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The Professional Development Environment Leaders Create

Advancement leaders can create 3 professional development environments for those in their care.  These professional development environments can encourage team members to: Learn More Skills – develop the technical skills related to their work; Receive More Instruction – learn from others about how they have enhanced their work; Think More – reflect on what our work means and become more

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Performance-Based vs. Responsibility-Based Metrics

The concept of “performance-based metrics,” is well known in our advancement work. But, saying something is well known does not mean that it is well understood.  In fact, in the case of “performance-based metrics,” I would suggest the concept is very poorly understood. What “performance” are we talking about? Does “performance” equate to outputs?  Like dollars raised?  Or, commitments received? 

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Compared To What?

If we want the most helpful evaluative process for our development program, an important first question to answer is, “what are we using as our comparison?” For example, we might make the following evaluations, “Overall, our fundraising results haven’t been very productive.”  Or, “We are making great progress with our fundraising.” But, neither of those evaluations is especially helpful until

Details »

What Do I Really Want To Know?

Before each visit with a donor or a prospective donor, we should ask, “what do I really want to know?” . . . about their financial capacity? . . . about their interest in our mission or cause? . . . about their willingness to be generous? . . . about why they give? . . . about their business

Details »

The Better Donor Relations Question

“What will our donor get when they make their gift?” In some advancement shops, the response to this question is something specific – a pair of socks, tickets to a football game, a naming right, a tchotchke. In other advancement shops, the response to this question is nothing specific.  A thank-you letter or a handwritten note will suffice. But in

Details »

Persuasive vs. Manipulative

It is common for some in advancement to hear the word, “persuasive,” and think, “manipulative.”  But, the two are very different. When we aim to be persuasive, we: are ethical, transparent, factual, and logical; seek fair, win-win outcomes with others; respect people’s rights and responsibilities to choose for themselves, based on what they believe, feel, and think is best. But,

Details »

The Professional Development Environment Leaders Create

Advancement leaders can create 3 professional development environments for those in their care.  These professional development environments can encourage team members to: Learn More Skills – develop the technical skills related to their work; Receive More Instruction – learn from others about how they have enhanced their work; Think More – reflect on what our work means and become more

Details »

Performance-Based vs. Responsibility-Based Metrics

The concept of “performance-based metrics,” is well known in our advancement work. But, saying something is well known does not mean that it is well understood.  In fact, in the case of “performance-based metrics,” I would suggest the concept is very poorly understood. What “performance” are we talking about? Does “performance” equate to outputs?  Like dollars raised?  Or, commitments received? 

Details »

Compared To What?

If we want the most helpful evaluative process for our development program, an important first question to answer is, “what are we using as our comparison?” For example, we might make the following evaluations, “Overall, our fundraising results haven’t been very productive.”  Or, “We are making great progress with our fundraising.” But, neither of those evaluations is especially helpful until

Details »