Here’s a fundraising secret that will relieve a great amount of angst: resources flow. Resources like time, creativity, networks, ideas, passion and money.  These resources are ours to leverage. Unfortunately, they can get stuck and stalled, in large part, because of the barriers we erect around them.  And the bossiest of barriers: our problematic relationship [...]

Half of fundraisers in the top job want to quit. That’s the bold headline from a study by the Chronicle of Philanthropy that was released in January.  It was cause for a lot discussion about the dearth of fundraisers and why the profession is so seemingly broken. The study’s conclusions are unsurprising.  They are also not fundraising specific.  [...]

I’m thrilled to announce that registration is formally open for the 2013 Course in Exponential Fundraising at Harvard. Please go to http://www.hks.harvard.edu/hauser/cef/  for a more detailed description of the program. The Course in Exponential Fundraising is a year-long engagement during where we work with 20 visionary leaders from the nonprofit sector who want to both dramatically improve [...]

Over coffee yesterday an old friend told me she was leaving her job as CEO of a nonprofit focused on public school reform. She said she wanted to get a job in “Corporate America.” Said she couldn’t do it any more.  She was burned out and, worse, she was “numb.” She described a lunch with [...]

My dear friend Gunther Weil, whom I have quoted in this blog before, is one of my greatest teachers and mentors.  His clear insights into people, values and the true meaning of life have deeply influenced me and many people I know. Recently, Gunther and I had a conversation about money and its role in [...]

Let’s say you’re a Pittsburgh Steelers fan all wrapped in black and gold at Heinz Field playing the loathed Patriots  (confession: I’ll spend the Fall with a Terrible Towel in my kitchen). Wait, better yet, let’s say you have money on the Steelers. As you sit watching your wager waver, you’d want your QB, Big [...]

Most would agree that successful fundraising is all about harnessing resources. Well, my blogger red flag goes up whenever I hear “most would agree.” So here’s why “most” end up leaving resources on the table. Harnessing resources is good, yes, But it’s the natural after effect when you focus on the most important aspect of [...]

Urgency is a time-tested technique for fundraising. Turning the urgency dial to “Hot” in times of crises is entirely appropriate and necessary.  After the earthquake in Haiti or the tsunami in Japan, after scores of similar natural disasters, there is critical need for quick, decisive action and resource mobilization. A curious thing about this urgency business, [...]

In four separate meetings over the past week I was in the audience as speakers leaned heavily on PowerPoint presentations. Each presentation consisted of slide after slide of bulleted text copy. They used this copy as a talking point guide. One presenter just stood and read each slide as if the audience was either blind or illiterate. [...]