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The sphere of philanthropy has not typically been a friendly place for fundraisers of color.  I’ve seen a tendency for people of color to burn out very quickly due to the pressure of moving in and out of predominantly rich, white circles where racism and discrimination are still alive and well.  And yet, there are […]

Fundraising has historically been a very white department where the workplace culture has not always been inclusive. I would argue that women and women of color have experienced their fair share of uncomfortable situations and microaggressions in the course of doing business.  But especially post-George Floyd, there are changing conversations that are absolutely necessary and

How do you answer the question, “What do you do?” Do you freeze up and feel awkward? 😳 Does it then seem like the person you are talking to is looking over your shoulder for someone more important instead of really listening to what you have to say? If you are a woman or a

Balancing the demands of your organization, your family and other responsibilities can make it challenging to prioritize personal wellness.  Especially as nonprofit leaders, we tend to value sacrifice over our own well being, working countless hours a week and going after our goals so hard that suffering becomes seemingly noble.  😔But chasing affirmation from feeling

We all aspire to treat each donor as a valuable part of our organization regardless of their donation amounts.  ✨It is part of what makes us human and not robots. We see the inherent value in each person and want to connect on a deeper level to hear the stories that make them who they

If your donor list is shrinking, you are not alone. Did you think, “It must just be me?” Are you wondering what has changed? When we think back over the last couple of years since the pandemic, consumer behavior has become digitized. Donors’ response to traditional norms of fundraising cycles are being replaced with donors

Did you hire your interns with good intentions, seeing the eager look in their eyes that reminds you of yourself many moons ago? Then a week has passed and you’re scrambling to manage another position, trying to get them to jump from the “me” to the “we” to take ownership of their learning experience. 📅The

Why does it seem like some people have a certain je ne sais quoi… for getting donors to say “yes!” while others only have the ability to repel potential donors from a mile away? I can tell you after years of fundraising trial and error that some people really do have an X factor when

You are on fire.  Your enthusiasm, your energy, your goals… they are something to aspire to.  So why, when you walk into the board room, does everything get quiet and uncomfortable? 😖 Your board isn’t matching your energy, and you have to fix it fast.  The truth is: Major gift fundraising is nearly impossible without

As nonprofit pros, we know donors are the lifeblood of our organizations.  But, they can also make us feel like pulling our hair out with their unpredictability. 😂 If you’ve ever received a random check in the mail or a surprise donation from someone you’ve never cultivated, you know what I mean.  On the other

What would your world look like if you could never recruit a new donor?  To some of us, that’s a scary thought.  Because if you desperately need a constant influx of new recruits, your current pool will quickly become stagnant.  The majority of donors that we find on social media, through our newsletter, or at

Newsflash: If your current donor cultivation strategy was born out of a survival mode mindset, it may not be functioning as well as you think.  That’s because the best fundraising strategies require creativity, ambition, relationships, and future-focused stewardship.  And it’s really hard to be creative, ambitious, and relational when you’re trying not to die. 😵

We’ve been talking a lot about AI lately.  And as much as I’ve harped on this idea that it’s nothing to fear, on the other side of the spectrum, some of us in the nonprofit world feel like we’re out of the loop, slow on the uptake, or maybe even behind the curve when it

Can you secure a huge unrestricted major gift simply because you’re in the right headspace? Can you change your reality with a simple mindset shift? I think so.  But before you throw up your anti-woo cross fingers at me, hear me out… 🙅 If you see yourself as a capable, confident fundraiser who is good

A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with technologist Afua Bruce about AI and its role in the nonprofit industry. And it became really clear to me that people are, by and large, worried about the negative influence technology can have on their jobs, their resources, and even on fairness and equality in

As a baby ED, I didn’t understand that my lack of success in fundraising was largely due to my mindset about it. Until one day a master fundraiser told me: “It’s you that is blocking the energy.” And I was so confused. Wasn’t I doing everything I could to chase down donations? Segmenting donors, making

Since the release of ChatGPT back in 2022, there’s been a lot of talk about AI and its dangers.  Will ChatGPT take my job?  Will we lose the human element if we use AI to automate a process?  Will we become dependent on AI for simple tasks? Will one of my staff publish an AI-generated

I’ve done yoga for over twenty years, and, like clockwork, every season my body needs something different.  In the winter, let’s be honest, it’s hibernation. I need rest and renewal.  But in the springtime, I need and crave growth and change.  The funny thing is, even if you aren’t in touch with your body, nature

Have you seen that trend where people introduce themselves as a [fill-in-the-blank] and then they go on to describe what they do in sweeping generalizations?  It might be cliché, but I’m a Gen Xer without a TikTok to speak of, so humor me here, would you?  You’re a nonprofit leader… of course you stay up

As non-profit leaders, we all feel burnt out at one point or another.  Often, that feeling pushes us into survival mode. Our amygdala is all geared up and shouting, “It’s all up to you! You have to get those funds! You have to keep the program alive! You need donors fast!”  And for fundraisers like