I often receive questions about how to approach referrals. You always want to follow up. Leaders are network builders and connection makers. Should you call, or should you wait for an introduction? If no one answers, do you leave a message? Call back? Or none of the above? This person may not recognize your number […]
Skipping Stones | Turning Plans into Action–Part II
Smooth, flat rocks thrown at the right angle with a quick wrist flick will hop across the water’s surface rather than quickly sink to the bottom. It doesn’t take a bodybuilder to accomplish this physics-bending feat; it just takes a patient and practiced handler with good form. Momentum, once harnessed, is no easy thing to […]
Momentum Missteps and Mishaps
The human brain likes to group. It generalizes. It categorizes. It organizes. The first time you saw an Archie comic at the grocery store checkout line, I doubt the decorative cardstock indicating the cost also defined the comic book for you. My guess is the more you encountered books with recurring characters comprised of drawings […]
Stepping Stones | Turning Plans into Action–Part I
When done right, your development message is clear. A development message is structured to answer the questions donors always have but don’t always ask: Why is this important? What’s the mission? What values drive all this? What’s the history? How did you get here? What is the plan? What are the strategic plan steps? What […]
Grow Better to Escape Trending Troubles
It’s time to walk through your talking points, your ministry’s prospect plans, and how to integrate both with the donor journey. What hurdles are your ministry facing that impact giving behaviors? Despite historic success and growth among organizations, asset holders, and generous people, are there ongoing, unusual losses and failures? Is it the continued, far-reaching […]
5 Reasons to Grow
You have a plan for growth for your organization. You have a plan to reach more people this year. Do you have a plan for how you’re going to grow personally? We have to have a different point of view than what is often taught or what is common in society about the value of […]
Over It? Go Through It.
How does one move from overwhelmed to overjoyed? This is a part of the human experience, especially as leaders. How do we move through these challenges that we face with that sense, sometimes even daily, of being overwhelmed? And then, how do we come to a place of joy consistently? I want to identify the […]
Renew or Redo in the New Year
The start of a new year is when people are driven and willing to sit down and look at what’s working and what needs to be reworked. A clean slate is more than just exciting – it’s a prime opportunity to clarify who your organization is and what it stands for, allowing for disciplined planning. […]
The Countdown Counts
What should you do 60 days (or less) until the end of the giving year? Less than sixty days remain in the calendar year, but who is counting? Less than sixty days are left to mobilize the giving you need this year. What should you focus on? Have you thanked your donors? Have you reported […]
Finalize Year-End Giving
All the work you do in development from January through September is reflected in the response and activity from givers in October through December. From a development standpoint, there are two pivot points in the year at which you are trying to ask people to make a giving decision. In the first half of the […]
Ripple Effect
Ever watch the joy and imagination of a young child playing pretend? The promise of potential they feel is palpable. No matter the chosen storyline, I’m willing to bet one undeniable truth lies underneath it all: I want to change lives. I would encourage you to get very clear on your vision for a single […]
The Illusion of Effectiveness
My father wisely taught me there are no expenses in development. There are only investments. Every dollar and hour spent on development should have a corresponding result and impact on giving. Why? You don’t exist to keep people employed in development. That’s not why you’re there. You’re there to bring others alongside you to support […]
Ask In All Seasons
As leaders, we must proactively reach out in specific ways to people willing to give at different times of the year. Many nonprofit organizations use a fiscal year that starts in August or September and finishes the following summer. Some do operate on a budget year, otherwise called a calendar year. This distinction is important […]
Work Smarter, Not Harder | Limits of Leadership
Let me give you a framework to think about using your capacity. Imagine your junk drawer at home. The larger the junk drawer, the more junk you will find to put in there. Eventually, you will fill it up and go to junk drawer 2.0. There will always be junk to fill the drawer. Capacity […]
Work Smarter, Not Harder | List More, Overthink Less
Ideally, you’re in the room with your donors at least once every eighteen months to two years. You’re touching base. You’re updating. You’re refreshing their memory of your ministry’s vision. You’re repeatedly moving through the cycle of thanking and reporting. As your organization’s advancement leader, I encourage you to continually work on your lists so […]
Work Smarter, Not Harder | Maximize Your Calendar’s Potential
Picture your calendar. What’s the first thing you see in your mind’s eye? Is it a due date? An upcoming party or birthday celebration? The start of a new semester? Time management research shows that the majority of stress and feelings of overwhelm are due to the next two weeks on a person’s calendar. Knowing […]
Where You Go Is Determined by Where You Are
If you’re in development, chances are you’ve already racked your brain for the best ways to expand your network. Look around you. Who do you see? Start there. For those of you working in schools or ministries with gatherings, it’s sadly common for people to only interact with others they know. If there’s a stranger […]
Your Ministry Needs YOUnity
As leaders, we must work impactfully with individuals and just as effectively with teams. I have compiled practical tips for your interactions through leadership that will grow trust, influence, and results with others, whether a large group or a party of one, ultimately benefiting your ministry. Let’s dive in, first focusing on EIGHT ways to […]
Self-Leadership Isn’t Self-Explanatory
Self-leadership is an area of passion and growth that’s hard for me to talk about because I have many regrets about habits and lack of discipline many years ago. I want to be careful, too, because I’m still growing in this as well. The goal is not to be perfect. God is the one doing […]
Start Well to End Well
Have you ever planned for a long vacation with your family? Different family members have different takes on what “planning” looks like. Some consider remembering toothpaste to be above and beyond, while another individual who shall remain nameless would label socks if given a chance. Who do you think everyone goes to on day two […]