Tag Archives: non-profits

Let’s Help Kelly, For Pete’s Sake

Photo courtesy of LiminalMike on Flickr.

Kelly Pierce-Bulger posted a comment to my blog post “Separate The Pits From The Juice” in the MojaLink group on LinkedIn.* I love her question because it’s very basic, very simple, and something many, many small and mid-size nonprofit fundraisers struggle with: how should I allocate my time?

MojaLink’s 45,639 members had nothing to say. Not a single comment. Maybe we can help Kelly out, and thousands of others who are similarly frustrated.

Here’s her question from LinkedIn:

It’s definitely true that development people need to use their time as productively as possible, but this is easier said than done! Do you have any advice for someone who is the only development staff member of a small nonprofit and struggling to determine what the best use of her time is? (between connecting with existing donors, prospect research, grant research and writing, corporate sponsorship research (and hopefully one day actual corporate sponsorships), and a growing online fundraising presence, not to mention various admin. and volunteer management tasks).

I’ll start with the first comment. I hope you will help Kelly, too.

(* For the LinkedIn.com links you’ll have to have a LinkedIn account and be logged in to see those links.)

Nonprofit Radio for October 21, 2011: So You Want To Be A Consultant & NextGen:Charity Conference 2011

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

You can subscribe on iTunes and listen anytime, anyplace on the device of your choice.

Tony’s Guests:

Henry Goldstein
Hank Goldstein: So You Want To Be A Consultant

Hank Goldstein, author of “So You Want To Be A Consultant” for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and a partner at The Oram Group, offers insight into the ups-and-downs, and ins-and-outs of consulting to nonprofits. When should you start thinking about consulting? What personality does it take? How much should you charge?

 

Jonah Halper
Jonah Halper: NextGen:Charity Conference 2011

Conference co-founder Jonah Halper talks about this year’s NexGen:Charity on November 17 & 18 in New York City. Who are their great speakers and what’s the conference about? My show is a media partner of NextGen and Jonah announces a $300 conference discount for listeners!

 

Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but an average budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Fridays, 1-2PM Eastern

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show’s podcast on iTunes. Download and listen whenever and wherever you want.

Here is a link to the podcast: 064: So You Want To Be A Consultant & NextGen:Charity 2011
View Full Transcript

“Demystifying Planned Giving” Webinar

Donation$ courtesy of oneiroi aka David Minder on Flickr

Due to technical difficulties today’s “Demystifying Planned Giving” webinar is cancelled. I’ll let you know when it’s rescheduled.

While I’m not keen on the word “webinar,” it’s widely recognized, and I’ve got one this week.

Hosted by smart-fundraising-guy Jay Frost, I’ll explain Planned Giving in a way that you’ll understand, using plain language to explain what many speakers regrettably make confounding. I’m trained as an attorney but I don’t talk like one.

I also do stand-up comedy (and I have a show the night before), so a damn funny story or two is bound to work its way in.

Alongside the mirth and merriment, I’m quite confident you’ll learn:

  • What Planned Giving is
  • Why it’s important to your fundraising
  • Who the best prospects are
  • What the different methods are
  • Tips for marketing and promotion
  • Resources for learning more

My web seminar is this Wednesday the 19th, from 1:00 to 2:15 Eastern.

I hope you’ll be with us. We’ll have some fun! Register here.

Nonprofit Radio for October 14, 2011: Giving Beyond The Check: Non-Cash Giving & Proactive Prospect Research

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

You can subscribe on iTunes and listen anytime, anyplace on the device of your choice.

Tony’s Guests:

Michael King
Michael King: Giving Beyond The Check: Non-Cash Giving

Recorded at the National Conference on Philanthropic Planning last week in San Antonio, Michael King of the National Christian Foundation shares the processes for closing gifts of unusual assets like collectibles, real estate and intellectual property.

Maria Semple
Maria Semple: Proactive Prospect Research

Regular contributor, Maria Semple, The Prospect Finder, follows-up on her last spot by going into greater detail on making your small shop prospect research proactive.

 

Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but an average budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Fridays, 1-2PM Eastern

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show’s podcast on iTunes. Download and listen whenever and wherever you want.

Here is a link to the podcast: 063: Non-Cash Giving
View Full Transcript

Separate The Juice From The Pits

The juicer at Organique.
I saw this juicer in action at Organique, a restaurant I like on West 23rd Street in Manhattan. It got me thinking about fundraising. You have to separate the juice from the pits. Distinguish between the valuable and necessary, and the time suck.

I say all this as someone who cares deeply about relationships. I think often about the relationships in my personal and professional life. I’m developing a new keynote on building and maintaining relationships that pulls in my stand-up comedy. The most important thing in my life is people, and my relationships with them.

You have to be smart about which relationships you spend the most time cultivating and nurturing. Be judicious with your time.

The first place this applies is with your prospects. Every prospect deserves as much time as you can devote to them, until your gut tells you they aren’t serious about a gift. You might hear it directly from the person, but that often comes after you could have figured it out yourself.

Likewise, if colleagues urge you to give up on someone, and your gut tells you there’s real potential, stick with it. Intuition is a wonderful gift. Trust it. I like this blog post on the subject, by Renita Kalhorn.

Then look where you spend time that isn’t directly related to fundraising. You may be burdened by administrative responsibilities or active in professional association committees. Do these really, truly help you raise money? Talk with your boss about reassigning administrative duties. Can you get the benefits of association membership–education and networking–without being on a committee? Committee work takes a heck of a lot of time. I said something about this in a post from March.

Do you wish you had more time for direct fundraising? You won’t find it. We never “find the time.” You have to make it.

You’ve got your own distractions that are more pits than juice. Do what you can to relieve yourself of them and spend your valuable time fundraising.