4 Steps to being Deliberate Happy New Year! New beginnings, new plans, new dreams… We have to talk. We all have fear. We all have habits that don’t serve us – putting off tasks, avoiding difficult conversations, blaming…the economy, our boss, our spouse. You are part of something bigger than yourself and you want to […]
4 Simple Secrets Successful Development Professionals Know That Help Them Avoid Year-End Overwhelm By Brooke Hein As the year comes to a close, the positive glow of the holidays can fade as demands increase and it seems there is never enough time. At the Artful Asker, we always talk about creating repeatable systems and how […]
As the pace races faster during our year-end giving bustle, we can feel the shift from enjoying it all to “just getting through it.” That’s when our appreciation and gratitude need to be called front and center. Long days, metrics to meet, cards to send and double-duty with family and donors can transform joy to […]
Let’s get real here. The math of major gift work say it takes about 3 prospective givers on their way to being ready for your Artful Ask to have the “rights” line up for one to give you your “yes.” And it can take up to 9 meaningful touches to create that Joyful Giver. So […]
Can you be counted on? Are you “ROCK” solid? As major gift officers and fundraising leadership we focus on creating long-term relationships with givers who value our mission. This deepens a giver’s connection with our cause leading to more and larger giving. OK. Right. We want THEM to GIVE to us CONSISTENTLY! We DEPEND on […]
Perhaps “Major Gift Officer” and “Freedom” feels mutually exclusive! Our long days, bustling from donor visits to internal meetings, attending events, writing compelling correspondence, and struggling to meet metrics and dollar goals hardly feels “open” or “flexible.” And, oh yeah, where’s our family or workouts in all of this? But in reality, most of us […]
“Many hands make light work.” Remember that saying? (Credited to John Heywood – I thought it was my mother.) When did it change to, “You can connect from almost anywhere now so you can do it ALL yourself.” WRONG! As Major Gift Officers, Executive Directors, Directors of Development, VP’s of Development and others in management […]
I wish to bring to your attention, and deliberate upon, the merits, challenges and opportunities brought forth by making it a “best practice” to avoid complexity in all aspects of your professional endeavors. In other words, “Keep it simple!” Simplicity is NOT the process of “dumbing down.” In fact, nothing could be farther from the […]
I am always a few feet off the ground for weeks after the AFP International Conference on Fundraising. It is humbling and invigorating to see what our profession accomplishes to “compose a good world.” (Maya Angelou) It’s a massive conference and an investment to attend. But WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! It was even better because I […]
I saw this coffee cup at my local Hallmark. I absolutely went nuts! “YES! It IS MY Time, MY Turn and MY World! ” I shouted in the store, beaming. There were two mugs, one for me, one for my sister. MY Time I create my life. I used to say, “I’m negotiating with the […]
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