Double your donations!! Are you interested?!!!!
A NEW masterclass for really greedy nonprofits … March 4-6, 2019.
New research shows how to double donations. How cool is that?
And guess who your instructors are? Adrian Sargeant and Tom Ahern.
Who's attending? Well, first of course, there's YOU … and then there are your other high-performance, really-worth-knowing classmates … and these two experts who speak internationally to rapt audiences … trapped in a small-class setting.
But mostly you get friendly, encouraging, cheer-leading-even (Tom has a story of high-school hijinks), prayerfully supervised, critiqued-by-experts PRACTICE.
You come up with stupid ideas.
You come up with better ideas.
You come up with breakthrough ideas.
And you're launched … into the next stage of your career's advancement … the one where you make WAY more money for your charity employer.
What's it like being there?You sit, casually dressed, in an old hunter's lodge, above Loch Ness. That's your classroom.
Dress warmly if you like to be outdoors. It's March; in the very midst of some of the most spectacular hiking country on earth (if that's you).
Also a great place to read a novel by the fire. Or write some of the deepest, most moving pages in your diary.
Also a great place to walk a few meters … and then hurry back into the bar for a double of that one you liked so much last night.
Can we have philanthropy without fundraising?
I don't think so. The biggest reason anyone gives is because they'ree asked.
Our communities – our world – need philanthropy. And, philanthropy needs fundraising.
"Philanthropy means voluntary action for the common good. Fund development is the essential partner of philanthropy. Fund development makes philanthropy possible by bringing together a particular cause and the prospects and donors who are willing to invest in the cause. The goal is to acquire donors of time and money who stay with the charity. This is done through the process of relationship building. With the donor at the center, fund development nurtures loyalty and lifetime value, thus facilitating philanthropy. You know if your relationship building works because your retention rates rise and the lifetime value of your donors and volunteers increases.
Did you think that was all of the CRQs created from Cohort 28? NOT HARDLY!
Tell me about a time you were curious.
What is your most cherished memory of giving?
If you had all the time, money, and volunteers in the world…what would you put it towards?
When you think of all the philanthropic investments you've made, which gives you the most joy? Which ones are the most proud of? How did you feel?
What legacy do you want to have? How do you want to be remembered? Why is this important to you?
What experiences have led you to show interest in an organization?
If you had all of the funding without any restriction, what philanthropic organization would you create?
After I brought up my faith, ask me to dive more into why [philanthropy] was part of my faith.
What impact has philanthropy had on your life personally and professionally?
How did you choose to work for the organization you have worked with?
YES YES YES!!!! CRQs… Cage-rattling questions.
Anyone who ever reads anything of mine knows how I adore and admire and desperately want LOTS of CRQs.
So here are some CRQs from Cohort 28, the new cohort for the Masters in Philanthropy and Fund Development at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
Try asking your donors these questions. Because every donor could be invited to share his/her/their philanthropic story.
Tell me about the path that brought you here today.
What drives you to get up, go to work, and do your best each day.
Tell me about yourself – share with me your life's journey.
What are your interests? Passions?
What unique hobbies do you enjoy?
Who are some people who have influed your charitable life?
What is your favorite thing about giving?
Notes from my dorm room….
The recurring series that occurs every summer when I'm teaching in the marvelously cool masters program in philanthropy and fund development at Saint Mary's University of MN.
The first week of class is over… I'm reading papers from Cohort 28. The assignment: Interviewing a classmate to learn the the classmate's philanthropic story.
The stories are so cool…how these colleagues wrote about each other. The feelings. Caring. Admiration. Respect.
♦ "Both personally and professionally, this philanthropic powerhouse positively impacts people's lives.
♦ A woman of this caliber has a philanthropic journey that is only beginning.
♦ She joined a sit-in protest at her comfort level. The next thing she knew, she had busted through her comfort level.
♦ A humanitarian to the core, [he] lives every hour of each day in service to his commitment to make the world a better place.
♦ It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
♦ She doesn't just talk the talk.
I know you love your organization. I hope that's why you work there.
But just because you love your organization does NOT mean that I will love your organization. AND OH MY GOSH… If you educate me, that won't make me love and give either.
Real life is NOT NOT NOT like the movie Field of Dreams (If you build it, they will come!) NO NO NO NO… And no matter how visible you are and how much you think you've educated me… I won't fall in love.
I know how awful the environmental mess is. I believe in global climate change. I believe we humans are deeply fecking (Irish) up stuff. But I don't give much to the environment. That's not my favorite cause.
Your visibility — trying to shove me hard into awareness — does NOT NOT NOT make me a donor.
Just read Jeff's blog: How Awesomeness Syndrome can torpedo your fundraising. Then watch the Awesomeness Syndrome video imbedded in Jeff's blog.