Secret Lives of Leaders by Kishshana
Kishshana Palmer is a breath of fresh air in the midst of what has been done for a long time. She is creating and leading conversations we need to have as people and professionals. This post spoke to me and I asked if I could share it. Of course Kishshana said yes because besides this blog post, she usually, mostly comes from a place of YES!
Continue Reading June 7, 2018 at 7:16 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Philanthropic Concierge
Have you had the opportunity to stay at an amazing resort? Perhaps a five star hotel? Traveled first class on a long haul flight? Took a cruise for more than 30 days in the best suite on board?
If you haven’t, most of our best donors have.
Continue Reading June 4, 2018 at 8:48 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Nonprofit Branding – Focus on the Donor
Have you read the February Harvard Business Review article, “The Most Successful Brands Focus on Users not Buyers”?
“Where traditional brands focus on positioning their brands in the minds of their customers, digital brands focus on positioning their brands in the lives of their customers. Furthermore, they engage customers more as users than as buyers, shifting their investments from pre-purchase promotion and sales to post-purchase renewal and advocacy.”
Continue Reading May 30, 2018 at 10:22 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE 1 comment
Relationship Fundraising
Relationship fundraising is all about the donor and connecting their interests to the organization’s people – because people give to people – not institutions.
Continue Reading May 29, 2018 at 9:12 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Fundraising v Fundcatching – Five Suggestions
There is a difference, you know? Although there are nonprofit organizations and professional fundraisers who measure their success by how much they raise not by how they raised it.
Let’s change semantics here – how about proactive v reactive fundraising. Many nonprofit organizations are very fortunate to have a regular stream of donations, large and small, sent to them.
Donor acquisition campaigns via direct mail and online giving provide a stream of new, one time donations and work fairly well for charities with a good brand. But even those result in 1-2% return rate against a high cost. The cost gets higher for these campaigns when nonprofits try to “convert” these donors into monthly (regular) donors or repeat donors. Results are mixed at best and require more money and human resources.
December 12, 2017 at 8:08 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Pearl Harbor – 1941 to 2018
So today, on December 7, I remember this infamous day in history. Until December 7, 1941, the US would not enter the war in Europe or the Pacific – for a variety of incorrect information and reasons. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor changed the course of World War II – for people in Europe, Asia and the United States. While Hawai’i, Japan and Europe may have seemed far, far away from Ohio at the time, we later learned the impact was much closer to home.
Continue Reading December 7, 2017 at 4:51 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Failure is an Option
To some extent online fundraising has “trained” donors on how we will treat them – whether the donor likes it or not. Donors quickly learned to opt out and screamed foul when they received multiple email solicitations in succession. Or donors return direct mail unopened (at least we know they received it – the rest of the 99% went in the trash or had bad addresses.)
Continue Reading December 5, 2017 at 8:30 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Since January 20 2017
Karma can bite you back. May I suggest Calm in the City – a worldwide effort to bring peace back as part of UN International Peace Day – 21 September wherever you are.
Let me recap since January 20:
Continue Reading September 12, 2017 at 9:24 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Good v Bad Philanthropy
I say good on any donor who is putting their charitable dollars and voice where they think they can make a difference to the community and in their heart. They are champions for the vulnerable. If some voices are louder and bank accounts larger than others – welcome to the democracy of philanthropy. Someone needs to take a stand. You may agree or disagree – in the end it is the donor’s time, talent and treasure – they can and do give where, how and when they choose. As fundraisers, it is our role to work with them to pave a pathway that connects their passions to making a difference.
Continue Reading July 21, 2017 at 10:53 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Philanthropic Research
Sure, these days there are certificate programs as well as undergraduate and graduate programs in nonprofit management and philanthropy. I’m old (veteran, experienced what have you). When I began my career in philanthropy, I learned on the job.
This week I realized how my university work in Political Science and History with a minor in Sociology helped get me where I am today – along with a Mom who supported and believed in me and a network of fundraising professionals who held their hand out and pulled me up.
Currently, I am building fundraising portfolios from scratch. This includes reviewing current and lapsed donors. Talking about prospects suggested by leaders and those who seem a potential fit based on news items.
Photo credit: Maura Hernandez
Do they fit in a portfolio? Well that’s where my university experience doing research, writing and intuition comes to play. My majors and minors required a lot of research from primary and secondary sources. I had to write, review and think about the subject to determine if my thesis was proved or I needed more explanation. I am old – all this research was done without the Internet or a computer for that matter. I loved this work – the smell of the library, looking for resources in the card file and finding actual books on the shelves.
This love of research carries over to my work in philanthropy. I am curious – not a stalker. My work at university taught me to keep asking questions. Look for more information. Refine and narrow the details to hone my argument.
This is the same work I deploy when building a portfolio.
- What tells me this person might have philanthropic interest (let alone capacity)?
- Are their values aligned with the mission?
- What experiences did or are they having that fit with the work?
So many more questions.
The research is but a first step. And one that does not take a long time. At some point I decide they should be in the portfolio and then determine what my outreach will be (moves management) so I can learn more from them as the best of primary sources.
There is nothing better than a face to face conversation about the donor’s experience, passion, interests and stories. And the beginning of a relationship where I can serve as a catalyst for their philanthropy. I want to help them turn their passions for mission into a philanthropic investment that has impact and provides them with a wonderful sense of belonging, accomplishment and pride.
It all began at university – unbeknownst to me and many decades later – I know why I was meant to hone my research skills.
Stay tuned on how and why writing all those political science and history papers contributed to my fundraising skills.
July 19, 2017 at 10:42 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
