By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 27, 2016
The most critical factor in creating a Major Gifts Program is the availability of a group of volunteers and professionals who will accept responsibility for the success of that program. This Leadership Cadre, which should (ideally) include one-or-two savvy and committed Board Members, must include a couple of current (preferable) or soon-to-be major donors, the […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 13, 2016
1. All Board Members Must Be Donors … to the best of their ability. Not all board members are wealthy, but everyone should give at the highest level possible for their circumstances. It is important to be able to say to the public that 100% of your board supports your mission to the best of […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 6, 2016
There’s been frequent discussion about a Board Member’s obligation to contribute to his/her nonprofit; and, what that boils down to is that every Board Member must set an example by giving to the best of his/her ability. Even a dollar (if that’s all s/he can afford) will help demonstrate, to other potential (individual and institutional) […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on June 29, 2016
A few years ago I asked: “Does your nonprofit have a Director of Development who Isn’t?” Since then I’ve encountered organizations with “Philanthropy Coordinators,” “Fund Directors,” “Donor Managers,” and people with equally unimpressive titles – people who didn’t know the definition of “Development.” So many nonprofits are hiring people for all-or-part of their fundraising/development operations […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on June 22, 2016
“Development” is, by definition, the process of creating and enhancing relationships with (potential) donors to ensure current and future funding; “Fundraising” is only about income generation. With “Development,” with the relationships you create, you take a major step toward ensuring future income; with “Fundraising,” income generation focuses on “now,” with no provision, no assurance, and […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on June 1, 2016
A few months ago I received an inquiry from one of the national development publications. The writer was preparing to do a piece profiling some “…smart, brave organizations that have dispensed with a fundraising convention – tradition, “best practice”, sacred cow, what have you – and have been the better for it. One of those […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on May 25, 2016
Before anyone gets insulted, a “mature” nonprofit has a strategic plan, a development plan and, even, a marketing plan. They have a budget and they know where the money is coming from to fund that budget. An “immature” nonprofit, on the other hand, doesn’t…. In a recent email, the writer said that she had been […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on May 18, 2016
…that wants other people to fund their good idea !! The email said: “We have started a NPO with the premise of completing a project to support a religious group. The project is a book we plan to market, with the profits going to that group. Our team consists of experts to write, design, produce […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 27, 2016
The email said that the “new” organization has one major event every year, and their Executive Director appointed one of their new board members as the event chair for this year because she (the ED) was pretty much burned out from doing everything over the last two years. She anticipates having to continue to play […]
By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 20, 2016
Far too many small/new nonprofits think of fundraising in the context of an activity, but a Fundraising Plan is not the equivalent of “Let’s Put On A Play….” For those of you who don’t recognize the Mickey Rooney reference, the phrase is the equivalent of “let’s do a fund-raiser,” the kind of thinking that does […]
Hank Lewis with Development Consultant Associates has over thirty years as a fundraising consultant and is a specialist in Board and Leadership Development, Capital Campaign, Bequest Program and Major Gifts. [Read more ...]