Thoughts from the Group

I've shared this before, but because the philosophy resonates in so many areas of life I want to share again—I keep a paperweight on my desk that reads, "If you can laugh at it, you can live with it."   And I firmly believe that laughter is, in many situations, the best medicine. It softens the blow of bad news, eases tension, and gives us a lift to keep going. And let's be honest—some days, all you can  do is laugh, especially with some of the things that come our way at wor

We say fundraising is funny, but today? I’m not laughing. This week, the nonprofit sector was jolted by a decision from GoFundMe that—if it had gone unchecked—could’ve threatened one of our most sacred responsibilities: our relationship with donors. If you’ve been around here a while, you know I don’t just talk about donor relations— I live it. Every keynote I give, every blog I write, every late-night brainstorm with my team stems from one simple belief: Donors aren’t data p

Dear Colleagues, Buckle up: What I’m about to share is so egregious, so deeply disrespectful to our donors and our missions, it should leave every nonprofit professional incensed. GoFundMe—yes, that  GoFundMe—has created over 1.4 million donation pages  for U.S. nonprofits without  consent. Let me say that again for the people in the back: They are fundraising in your organization’s name without telling you. This isn’t just a tech snafu. This is a full-frontal assault on the

To centralize or not to centralize—that is the wrong  question. The real question is: how do we ensure that every donor feels consistently valued, regardless of where or how they give? For many organizations, acknowledgments live in a messy, decentralized system. Each unit, department, or program handles things differently, which often leads to inconsistent timing, varied messaging, and worst of all, confused donors. On the flip side, fully centralizing acknowledgments risks

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...

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:...

Can I just say what everyone is thinking right now? These are weird times.  Federal budget cuts mean grants are being withheld from our...

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

Let’s cut right to the chase. If you’re still thanking donors and asking them for another gift in the same breath, you are not stewarding...

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,...

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

Imagine this: a donor calls you, confused by a recent pledge reminder. As they describe what’s in front of them, you feel a pit in your...

How often do we assume people on campus just “get it” when it comes to scholarships? If you’ve ever been frustrated by how scholarships...

Donor retention is often a neglected metric in fundraising, with many organizations focusing more on the volume of donations or the...

The only thing constant is change . Greek philosophers have given the world much to ponder over a few thousand years, but this...

I can't believe this fiscal year is almost over. Come June 30th, many of us will stick a fork in FY '24 and call it finished! On a...

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...

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, leaving little room for strategic thinking and long-term...

When we discuss stewardship, acknowledgments and reporting are usually the first items that come to mind. Similarly, when people think...