You're the Entrepreneur Cost-Saving Part Two

If you’re just joining us, last week I went to the RISE AUSTIN conference for entrepreneurs. It’s a free annual conference to help people get a leg up on starting and running their businesses. Here’s part two of what I learned and how it can be applied to your development office. Ann Webb of Skin […]

You're the Entrepreneur in your Development office-Part One


Be Able to Motivate
This is the number one thing. If you can do this, you can overcome bandwidth issues, and other organizational issues. It means more than just being nice. It means be able to give some people a reason to try harder for you.

Where are your donors spending money?

How much do people spend in your region and on what? Can you compare and contrast regions? Yes. This is not only a way to see what people’s disposable income is, but a way to sense how money could be redirected to your nonprofit. If people spend $1,000 going out every month, could they spend […]

Fundraising in a downturn: The Power of Leaderless Organizations

In this economic downturn, how are you responding? How quickly are your funders responding? How about your donors?

I just sat down and read the first chapter of “The Starfish and the Spider.” Talk about an inspiring book! You can read it here, too. This book, written in 2007, is relevant today in thinking about four things.

1. File sharing
2. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan
3. Montezuma, Cortez, the Apaches
4. Grassroots movements