By Mel and Pearl Shaw Do you use a case for support (“case”) in your fundraising? Do you use your case to recruit board members, fundraising volunteers, and new staff? Do all members of your nonprofit know where the organization or institution is headed? Yes, you can fundraise, recruit leadership and staff, and manage an organization without a case, but it is so much easier when you work with a case. Most organizations work from the premise that the only time they need a case is when they are preparing to engage in a major fundraising campaign. During such a…
Author: Mel and Pearl Shaw
Newly promoted fundraising professionals and volunteer leaders can feel as if they should have all the answers to everything. The pressure can feel overwhelming and trying to hide the feelings of overwhelm only adds to the dizzying experience. Here’s a secret: all of that is unnecessary. The cure lies in not knowing it all. Instead, surround yourself with people who can help you reach your goals. Melvin’s mom would say, “just remember, there’s always someone just a little bit smarter than you.” She was trying to tell him that he wouldn’t always have the answer. She was suggesting that he…
By Mel and Pearl Shaw of Saad & Shaw With June 30 knocking on the calendar door now is the time for reflection on how and whether to move ahead. Your nonprofit may have a calendar year that ends on June 30th – or this could be a mid-year point. In all cases, we recommend taking a moment to reflect on the work and value of your organization. Take time to look down the road at what lies ahead – and to look back on from whence you came. There may be a fork in the road, and you could…
What would you do if suddenly you found yourself surrounded by enthusiastic, talented, well-connected individuals ready to volunteer with your nonprofit and help you reach all your goals? Can you hear their voices clamoring, “just tell me what you need, and I’ll make it happen!” Could you respond, or would you find yourself saying, “let me get back to you.” We have the proactive answer that can put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to engaging and managing volunteers. It’s the volunteer handbook. When you have a volunteer handbook everyone in your organization has access to one source…
Fundraising is 90% preparation. Roles and responsibilities are a part of that preparation. In fact, defined roles and responsibilities for staff, consultants, board members, and volunteers help ensure that your fundraising activities run smoothly. When team members know their roles and responsibilities, they are more inclined to take action. No one person is being asked to do it all; each has a specific role to play. Roles and responsibilities should be documented and presented to prospective volunteers when they are invited to join your fundraising. This takes time. Ideally, roles and responsibilities should be documented in your fundraising plan. If…
By Mel and Pearl Shaw of Saad&Shaw Nonprofits love to hear the phrase “you got the grant!” With this column we share suggestions for things to consider once you receive a grant. Some may appear self-evident, and others may not. What’s most important is that your good news doesn’t turn into a bad situation. In most cases a grant notification includes a letter or document that you need to sign. This will typically lay out the terms and conditions of the grant. Read this carefully, as these are your obligations. Typically, the document will define what you can use the…
By Mel Shaw and Pearl Shaw As you organize your work for the coming year, now is a good time to review the contracts or agreements you have in place or are developing. Do you know what they say? What the payments terms are? What you’re actually purchasing? Too often a deal is made, an agreement is signed, people get to work, and the paper is never looked at again. Does this sound familiar? If yes, don’t worry, we’re all human! But there are a few things to consider to help ensure positive outcomes and healthy working relationships. We are…
By Mel and Pearl Shaw of Saad&Shaw It’s a joyous time to give and receive – and to teach! With our holiday giving we have a moment to teach our children the power and value of our local and national nonprofits. As we prepare gifts for our friends and family members we reflect on our relationships and how we value the people in our lives. We may not see a family member on a regular basis, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care about them. A gift, card, text, email or phone call is a way to reach across the…
What does an artist look like? What about a businessperson? Do they look the same? Different? What are they doing? How do they dress? Where do they live? Here are two more questions to consider. Which is the introvert? Which can assess the environment and create impactful solutions? We pose these questions as opposites, building on the assumption that artists and business people are of two different minds. That is the dominant message in our culture. It is “luck” that makes an artist successful in his or her lifetime, and “smarts” that lead to business success. What we are learning…
A well-run volunteer management program can change the life of your nonprofit. Most leaders know this and yearn for a team they can depend on. At the same time most delay engaging volunteers because “it’s a lot of work.” That’s the truth. But, it’s also true that an investment in volunteers will leverage the work of your organization in ways you can’t yet imagine. There are two key principles that are the foundation of a successful volunteer engagement program. First, recruit leadership-level volunteers using the same care and thoughtfulness you would when engaging a major donor. Second, once recruited, ask…