Whether your non-profit is large or small, you can help your staff (program, administrative, and development) understand that fulfilling their job description alone is not enough to move the mission forward. With your vision and guidance, they can learn how to help you with fundraising . . . and even enjoy it!
You know from your experience as a non-profit leader that personal relationships with your donors are the key to an effective fundraising effort.
And your non-fundraising staff can help you build these relationships, because program staff members are doing the work that stirs givers’ hearts. So, the best relational “fit” for a donor might be with another staff member, rather than someone from your fundraising department.
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People who volunteer give 10 times more than other Americans. This 2009 study (found here) may be getting old, but our thinking still hasn’t caught up.
If volunteers give 10 times more, why don’t we see more not-for-profits completely reorganizing their fundraising and programming around this idea? Why are so many of us treating donors and volunteers as though they are two different species?
My guess? Two things:
Small thinking - We’re thinking too small…too limiting…about what volunteers could and should do in our organizations.
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Who do you dream of being able to connect with? Do you have fantasy conversations with people who could potentially provide significant advancement for the cause you are passionate about? I do…and along the way I’ve learned that sticking to some fundamentals on good connecting can actually position you to have some of those ‘fantasy’ conversations in the real world.
What makes a great connector?
- They get the cause you represent. They know how to talk about the mission and vision. They are passionate storytellers of the work that you do.
- They know people of influence and affluence who might be interested in involvement with your cause.
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Tailoring your agencies message to each key constituent segment is critical to remaining relevant in their lives. Throughout the NFP industry, it is evident that donors, volunteers, and members are applying a sophisticated set of measurements when validating the time and money they commit. To stay linked, it is important that agencies assess how well their programs connect, engage, and inspire their stakeholders.
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Here are some simple steps you can do to start volunteer engagement. The very foundation of this process is to “Listen First”. Ask probing and open ended questions. So, here are the “deliberate” steps that you will need to retrace that you performed in order to intentionally engage the volunteer in an area that they feel fulfilled.
The first step is to confirm how they like to be communicated to, either through mobile phone, mailing address, email, text, etc. This is key. They have just shared with you the very best way to get their attention.
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Are you a non-profit trying to raise funds in these challenging times? For many it feels like everything is shifting from the tried and true ways of fund raising to the tired and blue ways. It's no secret that not-for-profit organizations are scrambling to identify and redefine the relevant and sustainable fund raising tactics that will support their mission during these challenging times. However they must also be future-focused, creating the goals, strategy and energy to carry them past this rugged period and well into the future. And though it will feel that such planning is stretching leadership and staff to their limits, it is critical that organizations know not only how to survive today, but what will it mean to thrive tomorrow.
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People give for different reasons than they used to and ask a lot more questions now. Loyalty giving alone is dead. One organization asks Major Donors to consider the following:
- Worthy causes must satisfy not just your heart, but also your brain.
- Even high-minded charity and ministry leaders need to be queried about their organizations.
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An Interview with Mark Vincent, Acting CEO Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA)
Mark Vincent was appointed Acting CEO of the Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA) at its recent conference in Dallas earlier this year. During the annual meeting, Mark graciously agreed to an interview with John B. Savage, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of OneAccord NFP. Below he shares some of his thoughts on leadership, stewardship and his hopes for the future of CLA.
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I have had the distinct privilege of coaching three ministry leaders in recent months: two men and one woman, all forty-something, all in new leadership roles in their organizations. Two of the organizations are large and structured; one is a new start-up. The two men are seasoned leaders who are changing fields; the woman has not previously served in a leadership role.
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As you look toward the New Year, our team at OneAccord NFP wants to encourage and equip you to embrace it with an attitude of abundance! In my own life, I often use a frame work that gives me perspective in time and space…in particular, the past, present and future. Allow me to share ten areas of focus that should make your year – and those to follow – more rich and abundant in your personal and professional life!
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