Tag: Fundraising

We have been working with a number of organizations recently that are in the midst of a strategic planning process. I believe strongly in the importance of this type of planning. Without it, it seems to me that institutions have a very limited time horizon for decision-making.

Furthermore, planning gives the organization an opportunity to review and reconsider its mission, vision and values. Perhaps most importantly, particularly from a fundraising perspective, strategic planning affords the opportunity to engage key volunteers and board members in an absolutely vital institutional activity, to weigh-in on the organization’s future direction, and to “own” the final planning decisions right along with the in-house management team.

My son, Christopher, a sophomore at Oak Park River Forest High School, is in his second year on the school’s water polo team. Chris has been a competitive swimmer since he was six years old, when Elizabeth and I enrolled him in the famous Dynamo Swim Program in Atlanta, where we were living at the time. He continued to swim during elementary and middle school on the local YMCA team, as did his sister, Cameron, who was captain of the girls swim team at Oak Park High School this past season. We think that swimming is a great sport for kids, as it teaches them discipline and self-motivation. What you don’t learn in swimming, however, is team work.

If you have ever had a conversation with a real estate agent, you are undoubtedly aware of the three rules of purchasing real estate—location, location, location. Well, what is a truism in real estate investment could be modified slightly to identify the three rules of major gift fundraising — relationships, relationships, relationships. Let me explain.

“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
– Leroy “Satchel” Paige

I have been struck lately by a fact so distressing that I am reluctant to share it here.  I guess I should consider myself lucky that so few seem to be reading my blog!

The fact is that I am getting old.  Oh, I can hear you now.  “Of course you are getting old.  We all do.”  Or, “what was your first clue?”  Well, it isn’t only that I have lost distance on my driver.  It’s not just because I go to bed at 9 pm and wake up numerous times during the night.  No, what has hit me hard on this aging issue is noting that just about every development officer with whom our firm works is now considerably younger than me!  Ouch!