Thoughts from the Group

“I would say it’s easy to be an arsonist. It’s much harder to be an architect.” The first time I heard that quote, I felt it deep in my bones. It rolled around in my head for days. Because I’ve lived both sides of it; seen the fires be set and watched the structures be slowly, painfully built. Every one of us working in this space has stood in a meeting where someone: often one with power, rarely with proximity to the donor—slaps down a proposal that undoes months of strategi

Most people want to do good work. As leadership expert Marcus Buckingham has observed, when performance falters, the more productive question is not “Who failed?” but “What is getting in the way?” That mindset is foundational for effective leadership, particularly in donor relations, where trust, consistency, and credibility shape every donor interaction. Managing underperformance is one of the most uncomfortable and essential responsibilities of leadership. When a team membe

There’s something I’ve noticed in the donor relations world that’s keeping me up at night. It’s this persistent, quietly toxic belief that being in a service-oriented role somehow means we should settle. Settle for being reactive. Settle for being overlooked. Settle for “good enough.” As if donor relations were a soft science: nice to have, not need to have. As if our work doesn’t require the same rigor, strategy, and innovation as any other core function of a nonprofit. Let

Let me tell you something you already know deep down, but maybe don’t want to say out loud: we all mess up. Yup. Every last one of us in donor relations and fundraising has, at some point, hit “send” on an email with the wrong salutation , mailed a thank-you letter to a donor who passed away months ago, or cheerfully invited a “valued donor” to a stewardship event...that they already RSVP’d to—and declined. I’ve been there. You’ve been there. Anyone who’s done this work longe

There is one thing I have learned over the years doing this work—that relationships with key internal partners are not only necessary, but truly mission-critical. Donor Relations work must be collaborative, not conducted in a vacuum, if we want to provide donors with the best possible experience. Our team, while important, is only one piece of the broader development enterprise. Leadership, frontline fundraisers, prospect managers, gift processors, finance and accounting team

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,

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

If you’ve ever tried an escape room, you know the deal. You get locked in a room with a handful of teammates, a countdown clock, and a...

We’ve all had that heart-racing moment at work when we realize something is very, very wrong. Mine came during the very first big project...

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off, shall we? We need to talk about something that makes most nonprofit leaders squirm in their ergonomic chairs:...

Let’s talk about a behavior that is slowly but surely sabotaging nonprofit professionals everywhere—and not in some grand dramatic...

Let’s be honest. Most meetings in nonprofit land are the equivalent of rewatching a movie you didn’t like the first time. You show up,...

As some of you may know, I took the leap and started a new role at a new institution nearly six months ago—time flies by so fast! While...

At DRG, we know that leadership can feel a little lonely sometimes. That’s why we created the Distinguished Leaders Program —to bring...

Let’s be clear: donor relations is not a side gig. It’s not just about sending thank-you notes or printing pretty reports. Donor...

As a millennial, people always found it surprising when I shared that I worked for an organization for 11 years. Millennials are known...

Data is essential for building meaningful relationships with donors. By leveraging our data effectively, we can transform our day-to-day...

I have a confession. I made a mistake. A few weeks ago, we sent out an email to over 20,000 DRG subscribers—all addressed to “Ashley.”...

Do you love to have tough but necessary conversations? Let me ask you this—have you avoided having a tough but necessary conversation...

Hey there team DRG—on a personal note, I’m back in the saddle and grateful to everyone that has supported me and my family these past...