nonprofits | Clay Myers-Bowman

Update #3 (07/03/2013: The deadline for submitting a Letter of Interest has passed and I’ve started reviewing. I expect to get through this stage by the end of the week and make a decision that I’ll announce next week. Thanks to everyone who took the…

Update #3: Review Underway

May 29, 2013

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One of the things I know my clients get tired of hearing is this: Be real. I’m always reminding fundraisers (professional and volunteer) that they can be incredibly confident, smooth and polished, but if they’re not real and authentic in their passion for the cause,…

Let’s be real about this.

April 2, 2013

A must-see video.

A recent TED talk from Dan Pallotta. It’s the most meaningful and challenging I’ve seen yet this year. If you’re serious about advancing your mission and truly meeting the needs of those you serve, you’ll watch this, share it with your board members and volunteers, and start trying to figure out how we can change the underlying challenges Dan lays out.

April 1, 2013

I’ve written a lot recently about the board of directors taking responsibility for their role in fundraising. It IS there job, after all. But of course, as people have pointed out, the board can’t do it on their own. Well, they can, but having a…

The Ultimate Fundraising Dream Team

November 30, 2012

There’s something wrong in the nonprofit sector. Really wrong. It’s a problem that can seem unsolvable because it’s so pervasive. Almost every executive director, CEO, development director, and consultant I talk to bemoans this problem. What is it? It’s this: Your board of directors has…

Most Small Nonprofits are Screwed

November 28, 2012

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Typically, conducting a capital campaign is reserved for larger projects that require a serious amount of time and investment. I’ve managed campaigns with a goal as little as $500,000, but they are typically $1 million or more. You can find a bunch of questionnaires and…

Are you ready for a Capital Campaign?

November 23, 2012

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The image at right is the Donor Bill of Rights. Have you seen it? It was developed and endorsed by several organizations that have a vested interest in making sure that nonprofit groups are doing all they can to create and run ethical, donor-centered fundraising…

Do Donors Have Rights?

September 14, 2012

In a post this summer I warned executives who work at small nonprofits that they couldn’t do it all. This week, I’m issuing a second warning. Executive directors and other nonprofit executive staff members are bombarded daily with new things. New donors. New reports. New…

My Second Warning to Small Nonprofit Executives

September 7, 2012

My post about social media from a few weeks ago generated some interesting conversations. In one, a colleague was talking about her organization’s social media strategy. Her comments were similar to those I’ve heard from other executive directors of small-sized nonprofits: “We have a Facebook…

Are you afraid of getting pushed in the water?

September 5, 2012

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I don’t always stay current with planned giving strategies and issues, but I was talking with a colleague and friend this week who shared information about a pending predicament for elders who have estates valued at $1 million or more. Basically, on January 1, 2013…

Looming Estate Tax Problem

August 31, 2012

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This seems like a very simple rule to follow. I’ve explained it to every volunteer of every capital campaign I’ve ever worked on or conducted. I often joke that it’s one of my secret strategies for fundraising success. But really, it’s not so secret. Won’t…

A campaign rule that when broken, can cause disaster.

August 29, 2012

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Clay Myers-Bowman

Executive Leader, Fundraising Consultant, Photographer

Posts tagged ‘nonprofits’

Let’s be real about this.

The Ultimate Fundraising Dream Team

Most Small Nonprofits are Screwed

Are you ready for a Capital Campaign?

Do Donors Have Rights?

My Second Warning to Small Nonprofit Executives

Looming Estate Tax Problem

A campaign rule that when broken, can cause disaster.