Thoughts from the Group

What do our top donors want from our organizations? Have you ever sat around wondering that? Have you ever asked one of these donors this exact question? Because I have, and what began as a way to learn more about our donors has become a lifelong pursuit of the best  way to build strong, lasting relationships. I don’t want just donors to our organization; I want partners. I want them to be as invested in our organization as we are. And honestly, when I started, I wasn’t sure

I remember the first time I sat in a meeting I “didn’t belong” in. I was 26, barely out of an admin role, still answering the phone with a chirpy “Development Office, this is Lynne,” and I got a calendar invite that made me do a double take. Strategic Planning Committee. Me. In a room full of vice presidents, deans, and directors with corner offices and blazers more expensive than my rent. At first, I thought it was a mistake. So, I called my VP’s assistant to clarify. “Nope,

Partnering with Scholarship Administrators to ensure scholarship funds are properly and successfully stewarded seems obvious, doesn’t it? It just makes sense to develop and maintain clear lines of regular communication—not just when there’s a problem—with these colleagues; after all, they are the ones tasked with distributing donor funds to students. Working in tandem with Scholarship Administrators is essential for fulfilling our obligations to our donors, our students, and

Ask just about any gathering of nonprofit professionals and you’ll soon discover that nearly everyone  is in one phase or another of a fundraising campaign. From planning to launching to sustaining momentum to wrapping, and if we’re lucky, evaluating and recovering––the lifecycle of modern campaigns seems almost endless as organizations move quickly from one set of priorities to the next. And this breathless pace can be especially challenging for donor relations teams, with r

You’ve just completed a fund audit; congratulations! That’s no small feat. If you’re like most people, it took months (if not a year) to pull records, review reports, check them against donor intent, and finally document your findings. You might be feeling a mix of relief, exhaustion, and a nagging question: Now what do we do with this audit? A fund audit is not just about accuracy or compliance. It’s about restoring and reinforcing trust—both internally and with your donors.

You probably heard it in elementary school. Maybe from a cheerfully demanding teacher. Maybe from a framed poster in the library. Maybe etched on a lunchbox or repeated in a locker room. That little chant that sounds like a nursery rhyme but hits like a life lesson: Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is your better and your better is your best. At the time, it probably felt like a cute motivational rhyme. Something to recite before a spelling test or durin

There’s one donor engagement story I’ll never forget. It happened during my time working with a small performing arts nonprofit. I was the chair of the “worker bee board” and I don’t think I’ve ever worked more for less pay ($0, with an expected contribution). I truly enjoyed the work, but SHWEWW! I was also happy to complete my terms! The organization had never been officially branded as a gay men’s chorus, but it has always served a primarily LGBTQ+ audience. For many, it’s

No matter how carefully we plan, mistakes happen. When this happens, it can be tempting to panic, delay, or hope the situation quietly resolves itself. But silence is rarely the answer. In fact, silence often does more damage than the original mistake. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. The broken items are repaired with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. It symbolizes resilience, the beauty of imperfection, and embracing o

Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate: your donors know when something’s wrong. They’re smart. They’re paying attention. And while they may not know every nuance of your fiscal year forecast or the backstory on your latest leadership shakeup, they know when things feel off. And do you know what breaks trust faster than bad news? Pretending there is  no bad news. We’ve been trained—whether by cautious boards, cautious lawyers, or cautious culture—to avoid sharing