Too many nonprofits are eager to tell me what they’d SAVE money for. But, too many struggle to articulate what they’d eagerly SPEND money on.

On multiple occasions these last few weeks, I’ve heard something like this: “My board member wants to throw a fundraising event but they want it to be FUN for their networks they’re inviting.”

Now, I'm NOT suggesting that we should plan boring fundraising events . . .

“We don’t like consultants. They just give advice and don’t really do anything.”

Huh?

This was literally describing THE OPPOSITE of my approach to consulting. Frankly, it was the opposite of what my clients were telling me…

Yesterday I caught up with a client from last year. Ironically our chat was on the last day of their fiscal year (March 31). I asked, “how’s it going?" . . .

“Well, we’re ending the year $2.7M ahead of goal.”

Yes, TWO POINT SEVEN MILLION.

Nope. Not an April Fools joke . . .

This blog is directed to your Board Members. Because what I'd LOVE to tell them is that there's a BIG difference between curious and skeptical.

And you’ve got to get it right.

My client asked me to meet with her and her board member the other day to prepare for an upcoming workshop. As we proceeded through the content she asked, “Can I ask a difficult question?”

One thing I want Board Members to understand about Fundraising…

Good intentions aren’t enough to create change.

Three ways to shift those good intentions into action and results?

I’m sorry to say that too often I witness THIS sad occurrence in this nonprofit sector of ours...

That thing I witness?

Commonalities among my clients?

They’re nonprofit leaders who are great businesspeople . . .

I was sitting with my client helping her interview a candidate for a potential leadership position. Super sharp individual who’s coming out of corporate.

The topic of fundraising came up twice . . .

A funny conversation I have every few months….

(For context, I serve organizations all over the country but I run my consultancy out of Chicagoland.)

“Sherry, our board wants us to work with ‘a local consultant’ who knows the donors in our market”. Followed by . . .

Nonprofit Board Members: May I ask a direct question?  

In your board service - Are you being an energy giver? Or an energy taker?

An honest confession here . . .

I cringe a little bit when I’m asked for “a script for donor calls”. Whether it’s for leadership, your board members, or staff . . .

 Why?