How do leaders know they’re focusing on the most important things? Is there a formula for dividing time between cultivation, asking, and thanking donors? If you are in a role that primarily exists to grow giving to an organization and you will be interacting with givers, then that is people-oriented work. The currency you are […]
Harness the Power of Time
Learning how to maximize and prioritize your hours is critically important. Effective time management does not come naturally to most people. Many must learn, practice, refine, and improve time management skills over time. I am the least naturally oriented person to everything that I’m about to show you. My awareness of what does (and doesn’t) […]
Season-Savvy Leadership
In 2025, the United States can feel joined in name only. Talking heads fill twenty-four-hour news stations and social media feeds with issues, causes, laws, and reforms. Regardless of your political leaning, emotions and tensions are high. Perception is reality. Reality is a challenge that we lead through. Post-pandemic, many leaders feel they’re in a […]
Referrals Fuel Success
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 […]
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 […]
Find JOY Again When You are Over 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Head On
Imagine a minivan parked on the side of the road. Now imagine shifting the van into neutral. Please give it enough oomph to make it 500 feet to a gas pump right up the road if needed. What if this same van was on a slight incline? Feel confident? You may need a friend to […]
Reinvention IS Innovation
The start of the calendar year is an excellent time to take a step back and look at the big picture. To look at what you’re working on within your organization. To look at who you’re working with at your ministry. At Development and Leadership Coaching, we hear weekly from one organization or another that […]
5 Numbers to Know 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 Power of Thoughtful Leaders Using Artificial Intelligence
In the waning days of 2022, we formed a Task Force at Development & Leadership Coaching to consider a specific question. How should generative AI be utilized by leaders who seek to grow significant giving and unlock the hidden capacity in their faith-based organizations? This position paper captures the latest thinking of our team on […]
Metrics that Measure
Any development director worth their weight has figures and facts on the tip of their tongue for use at any given moment. You have a brand to market. Is your marketing based on measurement or the other way around? Statistics are magical – they can show whatever it is that you want. You have the […]
Shaken, Not Stirred
“For behold, I am commanding, and I will shake the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is shaken in a sieve, but not a kernel will fall to the ground.” These words from Amos 9:9 are resonating with me and I feel called to share them with you during the latter part of […]
Playing the Long Game
Think back to when you were a senior in high school. Try to place yourself back into the mentality of the world being your oyster. The future was wide open, and yours for the taking! Or was it? Did your parents help guide you through it? Perhaps you found an out-of-state school with all the […]
Growing Pains
May I be blunt? I don’t really have any interest in you learning for the sake of learning, though I’m the first to admit I have a teacher’s heart. I’m more interested in what you and your team are going to do with the skills, tactics, and tools we discuss. Keeping this in mind, let’s […]
Discipline Can Be Deceiving
From the outside, as I hiked with several leaders after a long and productive day, it likely looked like I was a diligent, structured, disciplined person. I say this because several people commented on just that. However, that was merely a reaction to evidence available at the moment. I love discipline. I admire it. I […]
