Welcome 2012!
Breathe deep … more excitement ahead.
Think of the fundraising cycle. It reaches a crescendo on December 31st when so many people make their year-end, holiday (many times tax-driven) gifts. The flood of checks in the mail! The last minute gift annuities! The struggle to decide whether that land deal is legitimate! Year end is exciting for the development office.
Now that you’ve taken a deep breath and had a little rest, what are you going to do to avoid the personal, and fundraising, depression that can come with the start of a new year?
Your career move? Resolve to see some folks. Not just any folks, but your donors. Pick a few at random, and make a New Year tour. Getting out to say “thank you” to people who supported you last year will be a fine lift — for you and them. No more agenda than simply to say thanks — and Happy New Year!
Happy Holidays
A heartfelt Happy Holidays to you.
For a lot of our friends and neighbors, maybe even you, it’s been a difficult year. Yet here we are in the darkest days — literally the days with the least sunlight — knowing that daylight WILL come back. It is certain.
So huddle with your friends and family. Reach out to those whom you love and remind them that you do, and build a solid base for when the sun returns. Assuredly it will once more, and all will be right with the world.
A Turkey of a Name
The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is native to North America. Yet the earliest European arrivals, thinking that the bird was related to what they called “turkey fowl” back home (a bird that was really from central Europe but imported to their tables via Turkey), named the American bird “turkey,” too.
But it doesn’t stop there. Just ask the “Indians” (Native Americans, First Nations). Columbus thought he reached India, so what else would he call them?
How many times have you labeled something — or worse yet, someone — from the start and never thought to reexamine that label later? I know I’m guilty. It’s just easier to do.
The fundraiser says “Oh, they’re not a prospect.” The job seeker says “No jobs there.” The employer decides “Not the candidate for me.”
How is this a career lesson? First impressions — on both sides — always need reevaluation, if only to confirm what you originally thought or to change your perspective entirely.
Wanted: Nonprofit organization in desperate need of $1 million
If someone were to ask an experienced fundraiser what the best way is to raise a million dollars, what would be the reply? My guess? First, do your research and find people who can make gifts of $1 million. Second, build a network that connects to those people. Third, help those people develop an interest in your mission. Fourth, ask for it! Makes sense, huh?
So how come when you ask that same fundraiser what’s the best way to get a job, the answer is “look at the want ads and mail a resume”?
Wait. No research? No networking? No interest? No ask? How many people advertise a million dollars to give away? (“Wanted: Nonprofit organization in desperate need of $1 million. No previous major gift receiving experience required. Send cover letter and 990 to …”) So why would the best jobs be advertised?
The career step here? The best jobs, like the biggest gifts, are best found through identifying who has what you need, building a network to get to them, developing their interest and then making the ask.
