Here’s a way to bring an instant and unlimited reserve of passion to your projects. At a recent Jeffersonian-style dinner, this simple question was posed to our group:  share a story of a teacher who impacted your life.  The common thread among the stories was that all great teachers bring an unwaivering passion to whatever they are [...]

The dates are set for the next Exponential Fundraising workshop:  May 5 and 6 in New York City. Since they are highly interactive and aimed at ensuring a rich and stimulating exchange of ideas among a diverse group of peers, only a small number of spaces are available (no more than 15 participants).  To contact [...]

I’m off to the TED conference this morning. In addition to meeting lots of old friends and snacking on the chocolate that Google seems to place everywhere, I’m attending a small Jeffersonian-style dinner organized by IDEO – the renowned design firm that works with organizations to help them innovate, develop capabilities and grow. The question that’s been [...]

I’m thrilled to announce that registration is now formally open for my new program at Harvard:  A Course in Exponential Fundraising.  For more information on the program, go here. It’s a year-long engagement where I will be personally working with 20 visionary leaders from the nonprofit sector who want to both dramatically improve their organization’s [...]

Ever wonder if you should recruit – and how best to use – celebrities for your organization’s campaigns?  Should you host a gala or not?  How should you use gaming and technology to maximize your results? Check out the new Exponential Fundraising video series and watch as some of the world’s most insightful nonprofit and [...]

Check out the new Network for Good study that was released today. Full of great information for any organization that is looking to improve its web results, it covers $381 million in online giving through their platform, including 3.6 million gifts to 66,470 different nonprofits from 2003-2009.  Key study findings include: ·  Just as the strength [...]

Guest blog by Jeff Walker, bio below. Jeffersonian Dinners Create Transformative Connections Imagine being invited to a dinner in 1819 with Thomas Jefferson, President, scientist and writer of the Declaration of Independence.  Participating in a stimulating conversation with guests that he invited because he found them intriguing and interested in similar things as others at [...]

We all know the power of stories. “On my last trip to Kenya, I met a woman named Anindo …” is a much more effective way to capture someone’s attention than “Let me tell you about my nonprofit organization that works on … ” We all know this and yet still overlook this simple but [...]

My friend Sasha Dichter’s sharp insights often remind me of what’s important in this business. This post is especially good in that way: “I worry that in our pursuit of better, smarter philanthropy, we run the risk of trading in soft-heartedness for hard-headedness, and in so doing everyone ends up coming up short – because this is [...]