Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving as a senior human resources executive in some of the world’s largest and most admired companies. During this time, I have observed that many companies and organizations spend significant resources and focus on building a robust leadership recruitment/selection process, but fail to invest adequately in … Continue reading Roadmaps for Success

Urgency and Impact! These are the two most important words to donors. Why do I need to donate to you now, and what is the impact of my donation? Eighty five percent of your donors will give you a smaller donation just due to the nature of your cause. Another 10% will give a larger … Continue reading The Key to a Donor’s Heart

If I asked you what you believed was the greatest threat to your faith-based organization how would you answer? Would your greatest concern be financial—how will you raise the money to sustain operations? Would your fear be more driven by the political realm as you see federal, state, county and municipal governing bodies across the … Continue reading Underground Fires of Conflict

According to multiple studies, 50 to 70 percent of online donation attempts end before completion. Let’s put “donation abandonment” into real-world context. We pour precious resources –money, time and creativity – into finding like-minded donors and convincing them to view our website. These potential donors then click the “Donate” button, saying in effect, “Yes! I … Continue reading Donation Abandonment

In the middle of the 2008/2009 recession, I was overwhelmed, anxious and definitely not thriving as a leader. As more and more business dried up, I worked harder and longer to survive. Near a breaking point, I went on a 24-hour silent retreat, crying out to God in my fear and doubt. In that place … Continue reading Living from Quiet

What do Starbucks and demographic trends have to do with fundraising? On most days probably nothing, but a few years ago I was sitting in Starbucks reading an article about how demographic trends are affecting the financial world. The business world loves this kind of data because population size dictates consumerism. As CEO of a … Continue reading Fundraising’s Future

If you were to ask a leader today what their top five issues are in either their workplace or faith-space, chances are millennials would be somewhere on the list. To read much of the writing about this generation, one might conclude that they are one of the single-most disruptive forces ever to enter these environments. … Continue reading Intergenerational Leadership

Encountering biblical generosity, whether in the lives of donors, leaders, missionaries, colleagues, or those we interact with daily is always a gift. Such generosity also prompts us to encourage others to be “rich towards God.” This sentiment (regarding stewardship) is the theme of Dr. Wesley Willmer’s book, Revolution in Generosity (Moody Publishers, 2008). The late … Continue reading Biblical Generosity

A nonprofit organization’s budget tells a story of its health, priorities and personality. The budget should align with its strategy, and the strategy should align with its mission. In other words, the organization’s budget should serve as a game plan to accomplish the mission. Budgeting, if done correctly, has the power to enhance teamwork and … Continue reading Strategic Budgeting