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Relationships are Everything
So excited to announce the global virtual fundraising summit “Relationships are Everything”! ✓ Everything you need to know about how to do relationship fundraising properly. ✓ How to move from a reactional, transactional, “money-centered” approach – fundraising at people – to fundraising with people. ✓ Proven approaches to decolonizing relationships and fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion. Yes, count me in! The first ever global virtual summit dedicated to relationship fundraising powered by Fundraising Everywhere, and made possible thanks to support from the amazing Agents of Good and Bloomerang. Philanthropy thrives on relationships: no matter if you’re a one-person shop fundraiser, board member, beneficiary, digital fundraiser, philanthropist, volunteer, foundation, major gift…
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Covid-19: 7 fundraisers in 7 places
As the tide of the Covid-19 pandemic rolls on across the globe and into North America, it is threatening to crush some nonprofits, while others may find themselves riding on a relatively smooth wave of financial support. Most will find themselves somewhere in between. There are many unknowns and uncertainties as we navigate the stormy seas of fundraising and donor relations in the coming months. Relationship fundraising pioneer, Ken Burnett, suggests the crisis could be fundraising’s finest hour, when we turn to our donors with what he calls a ‘Let’s give before we get, sharing with our friends’ approach’. At the core is the “supporter’s experience that matters most.” Having…
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Leadership in Times of Crisis
The number one challenge I’ve been hearing from leaders around the globe throughout the pandemic has been about leading teams remotely. It comes up in every conversation thus I started gathering resources here and will be adding more: Check out the May update of the Covid-19: 7 fundraisers in 7 places article for great tidbits on leadership currently in action. Here’s a reading list from the Harvard Business Review: The Psychology Behind Effective Crisis LeadershipWhat your people actually need from you. Communicating Through the Coronavirus CrisisBe as transparent as you can. What Good Leadership Looks Like During This PandemicThe approach that’s setting nimble leaders apart. Lead Your Team into a…
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Covid-19: 7 fundraisers in 7 places — update
Covid-19 has created an intensely challenging moment in our lives, our history, and our economy. I was curious to know how my colleagues, who generously shared their insights at the beginning of the pandemic, are adapting to the changing situations in their parts of the world. Are they struggling? What can we learn? How are donors responding to the situation? The two common themes emerging from this mosaic of perspectives are 1) that successful fundraisers continue to fundraise, while being mindful and intentional with a focus on engagement and stewardship and 2) donors continue to support the causes they care about. Seven fundraising professionals in seven places: Robert Dixon, Director…
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IWITOT 2020 – the year I participated as a virtual speaker!
A few weeks ago, I had the honor to be an invited speaker at IWITOT where I spoke about one of my favorite topics #donorlove. I’ll write a separate blog post about my presentation in the next few days. For now check out the speaker list and buy your recording of the virtual IWITOT here. All proceeds go to the SOFII Foundation! To celebrate brilliant fundraising and connect phenomenal fundraisers with amazing ideas, this year’s IWITOT was a completely virtual event and allowed people all over the globe to have access to some of the most inspiring campaigns in the sector. Over 750 fundraisers joined in on April 21st 2020 to see 17…
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Bill Littlejohn, Sharp HealthCare Foundation response to C19, part 3
Thank you to Bill Littlejohn for providing the communications package from Sharp HealthCare Foundation. Sharp Philanthropy UpdateDate: April 17, 2020To: SHF Board of DirectorsSharp Philanthropy TeamFrom:Bill Littlejohn, SVP and CEOSubject: Sharp Philanthropy Update Today’s update is mostly a virtual tour and links to Sharp’s leadership in the fight against COVID-19. We’ll begin with the front page story from both the LA Times and San Diego Union Tribune of the incredible images from Sharp Memorial and Sharp Chula Vista. Be sure to check them out – searing and powerful and a reminder of the power of philanthropy to provide for our caregivers and the patients we serve. We are exceedingly pleased…
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Simone’s Bookshelf: more lifelong learning ideas
Hi again from Simone Joyaux… More lifelong learning ideas. Just a quick run around my office. Authors / sources that I regularly read (or must read very soon!) – just good business stuff! Jim Collins Heath Brothers Seth Godin (His free daily blog and all his books!) Harvard Business Review About the nonprofit sector and fundraising and stuff…just a very very few… Adrian Sargeant and Jen Shang (All their books and articles…And the reports on the website Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy.) Roger Craver (Free daily blog and books) Jeff Brooks and Tom Ahern (Donor-centered communications) SOFII (Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration) Moceanic These are just my top-of-mind this week. But…
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Bill Littlejohn, Sharp HealthCare Foundation response to C19, part 2
As we begin week four of quarantine/stay-at-home and prepare for the surge in San Diego; a Part II from my earlier post on our system’s response to COVID-19. As for many of us and our communities, it is all C19 all the time. It is important that in that focus, we also expand our giving opportunities and strive to maintain productive in a very disrupted work environment. I encourage others to share your experiences as this will also be a learning experience for our programs and profession. Maintain productive work environment We’ve continued our combination of work at home as well as the office. Beginning this week, all employees will…
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Bill Littlejohn, Sharp HealthCare Foundation response to C19, part 1
A HUGE thank you to Bill Littlejohn, CEO and Senior VP, Sharp HealthCare Foundation, San Diego, California, USA, for sharing what he posted on the AHP Huddle including the Update from the Foundations document – very powerful and educational! I love the clarity and transparency everything is being communicated with — it sure sets the bar high. This is fundraising excellence in practice. Wish other organizations would do this. I’m certain their donors appreciate this open communication immensely. So much to be learned from both pieces…. and from Bill (check out his insights here). I am so impressed with his openness to sharing his knowledge with colleagues. From Bill: Many…
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Day in Life – Covid-19 Edition – Cynthia Khoo-Robinson
There’s so much to say about Cynthia. We met through the AFP Cincinnati Mentoring Program and she’s been an amazing mentor to me ever since. She introduced me to higher ed donor relations and stewardship, which was exactly what I needed at the time to become a more well-rounded fundraiser. The photo on the right is the Cincy gang at ICON 2018 in New Orleans. Thank you, Cynthia, for always having my back and sharing your new found routine with us! Cynthia Khoo-Robinson, CFRE, Associate Vice President of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving at University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA Cynthia has more than 30+ years experience raising money…
