The Mysterious World of Raising Funds from Foundations Part 1

January 04, 2021 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Strategy, Understanding Donors, Capital Campaign

Remember this: Foundations are in the business of investing in nonprofits that perform work leading to goals and outcomes desired by their leadership. If your group can help enable them to come closer to those goals and outcomes, they need you. You are doing something they cannot do themselves.

Achieving your dreams in a global pandemic

July 13, 2020 by Dianna Smiley in Capital Campaign, Strategy, Board Members

Capital campaigns represent the dreams of leaders in a community to do something important and lasting on behalf of the community. And now...COVID-19. How do these leaders and their teams react to something that might completely derail their project? What if they are in the middle of the campaign? What if they now lack the funds to execute the campaign? What if they are almost ready to launch the campaign? This post has six points of advice for those planning or carrying out capital campaigns right now.

What's the secret to great fundraising?

January 20, 2020 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Staff Leadership, Consulting - fundraising

There's not just one "secret" to great fundraising. And the "secrets" are not actually secret. But there are key elements common to most great fundraising efforts, and I'm going to share with you some of the ones I've observed (and been part of) over my years in the fundraising profession.

Has “Generosity” lost its power?

October 30, 2019 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Capital Campaign, Staff Leadership, Understanding Donors

Used too often and without thought, “generous” and “generosity” lose their power. Do we cheapen these words by calling every donor “generous”?

Useful Metrics for Your Fundraising Plan

May 05, 2019 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Staff Leadership, Strategy

Have you developed metrics for your fundraising programs? How can you make them meaningful? How can you make sure your whole organization embraces them, including your Board? And how can you be sure they are helping you raise more money, producing more net income for your mission?

Fundraising Envy - Combat it with Best-Fit Strategies

April 22, 2019 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Strategy

Board members often compare your organization with another they’ve heard about, in fundraising. But Fill-in-the-Blank-Organization is not like your organization, and therein lies the reason you should not be raising money exactly like Fill-in-the-Blank-Organization does. Your group needs what I call “Best Fit” fund raising activities and programs.

Board Members and the Low-Giving Syndrome

July 26, 2017 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members

Some Board Members make no financial gifts at all to the organization or make relatively small gifts. I call this the “Low-Giving Syndrome”. Is this OK?