"The Annual Fund Is Obsolete: Three Follow-Up Thoughts"

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on May 3, 2010

1. If a mechanism you’re using to raise funds for your programs/operations is called the “Annual Fund,” and if you solicit the same constituency more than once each year, then a response you’re likely to get from donors is, “I already gave this year.” You may not hear them say it but, for sure, many […]

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"The Annual Fund Is Obsolete"

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 29, 2010

After thirty years in the non-profit sector, I often find myself questioning, not what we do, but how we label what we do — and how those labels often limit us. The best example of that concept, I believe, is the label “Annual Fund.” It seems as if, for as long as there have been […]

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Leadership: The Board’s Mythunderstood Role in Fundraising

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 27, 2010

MYTH: Every Board Member must make an “example-setting” major gift. REALITY: 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) funders, that every Board Member has “supported” their organization. Keep in […]

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Fundraising: Leadership vs. Management

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 23, 2010

In her recent (April 16) blog, “To Lead” vs. “To Manage” (see: http://managementhelp.org/blogs/leadership/), Julia Fabris McBride observed that “Organizations need leadership AND management.” That made me realize that … up to now, I’ve been talking about fundraising from the perspective of “management – the role of the director of development – managing the volunteer leaders […]

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Who Should You Hire to be Your Director of Development??

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 19, 2010

Let me start with who you shouldn’t hire: your buddy, someone who’s been “active” in the community, a “popular” person, or someone who just got out of banking or marketing. Dismiss all the thoughts/suggestions that first come to mind. This is serious stuff. The best directors of development are those who have served in various […]

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Does Your Organization Need a Director of Development??

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 16, 2010

I initially wrote this piece with the idea in mind that many NPOs don’t need DODs, but my wife read it and said I was totally wrong. So, the following is sort of a collaboration … actually, I won’t publish anything she doesn’t approve !! Ideally, from day one, an organization should have someone who […]

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Does Your Organization Have A Director of Development Who Isn't….??

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 12, 2010

So many non-profit organizations are hiring Directors of Development without really knowing/understanding what “development” is supposed to be about and how a DOD is supposed to function. For many organizations, the Director of Development is the person hired to write the grant proposals, or create relationships with corporations, or create/run the event that’s going to […]

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"Development" is NOT a synonym for "Fundraising"

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 8, 2010

Development is, by definition, the process of creating and enhancing relationships with (potential) donors. It is the introduction of (prospective) donors to a non-profit organization, building their interest in the organization’s mission/services, developing in them a passion for the mission and a commitment to the organization’s future, getting them to make-the-gift, and maintaining the relationship […]

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Getting The Donor To Want To Give

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 5, 2010

“The Hokey-Pokey of Fundraising” Whether it’s a Corporation, a Foundation, a prospective Major Donor or the recipient of a mass solicitation, they’re not going to write you a check if the process doesn’t satisfy their needs. Getting a Corporation to want to give to a non-profit organization (NPO) is a simple matter of learning, understanding […]

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"Fundraising or Not Fundraising, That is the Question"

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 1, 2010

Fundraising, as a distinct sub-category of income generation, includes those activities that get people to GIVE their money to non-profit organizations and, ideally, to get them to keep giving. It does not include raising money by selling things – T-shirts, light bulbs, candy, books, carnival tickets, seats at a dinner or anything else that has […]

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