It’s Not Easy Being Concise


I am finally finished writing and editing my book, Date your Donors: How to Attract and Engage a New Generation of Philanthropists. It took more than 2 years to complete it, and not because it is exceptionally long. Truth is, it is pretty concise at around 150 pages. What took me a long time to accomplish was writing it in a way that would be digestible and easy to reference. I did not want a book that would feel academic or encyclopedic in any way. date your donors
Going in to writing this book I knew I wanted to make fundraising accessible to the average person. That requires less emphasis on the technical aspects, and more on the elements where everyone could relate. It required me to think and write in plain-speak and then use the “red pen” technique (you know that “red pen” from your teachers’ grading in elementary school!) in all areas of my writing where I felt I could cut down or reword without losing the point.
This is a great exercise that is fundamental to all advertising, but is much more difficult to do when you are looking at 25,000 words instead of 150 words. However, if being concise and memorable is important in advertising, then the same can be said for a book that is meant to be engaging and a reference point for sharpening one’s skills.
People may be impressed by a thick book with long chapters, but it is more likely to sit on the shelf than a book designed to be read with great ease…and in only a few sittings. I opted for the latter. The book will be out in early 2016.
Reserve your copy at a discount here: www.DateYourDonors.com.

VISION: WHO YOU WANT TO BE

By Jonah Halper, ALTRUICITY

When you are seeking a long-term relationship with someone in your personal life, it is important to know what your long-range goals look like. Kids? City or country living? Want to be a stay at home mom or dad? If your priorities and goals don’t align, then you probably aren’t looking at a sustainable relationship.

This kind of compatibility exists in philanthropy too. While mission is about what you DO, Vision is about what you want to accomplish; the growth and direction of your mission. You may be in the business of bringing clean drinking water to indigenous people, but what vision do you have for this cause? Are you trying to bring clean water to everyone? A region? How do you define success in 5 or 10 years down the road? This is your vision. This is your guiding light.

In philanthropy, you are also seeking a long-term relationship; someone you can call a partner and help you realize your vision; built on common values and vision for the cause. If you share this compatibility of mission and vision, it can translate into years of financial support.

DATING TIP

CREATE YOUR VISION STATEMENT
This is the fun part. Determining the “how” of making your mission happen. This is your opportunity to get the prospect excited about where you are headed with the cause. Dr. James R. Lucas, a recognized authority on leadership and CEO of Luman International, states [SOURCE] that the vision statement needs enough detail that you can be held accountable. In other words, are we living up to its standards?

Here are a few great examples:
The Nature Conservancy: Our vision is to leave a sustainable world for future generations.
Teach for America: One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.
charity: water believes that we can end the water crisis in our lifetime by ensuring that every person on the planet has access to life’s most basic need — clean drinking water.

Nobody’s Fool: Chipping Away on Donor Trust

There is nothing more harming to a relationship than double-crossing one’s trust, and in marriage, trust is the bedrock of a dependable relationship.

While double-crossing is frequently depicted as treachery, in all actuality it isn’t normally a solitary stun to the framework that fixes a relationship. It has a tendency to be little disloyalties. Little lies, misleading statements and different activities where an accomplice feels like they aren’t playing on the same group as their better half.

Connections in non benefit gathering pledges are additionally assailed by these little treacheries. Here are 4 normal practices, where the associations may imagine that they are helping their reason, however truth be told are wearing down their giver support:

Misrepresentation

We have all gotten those letters that appear to originate from an authority government org (better open it, would prefer not to cause harm!) or an envelope that makes us think there is a check inside (Woohoo! Cash!). Yes, you got me to open it and enhanced your post office based mail open rate, however when I see what it truly is, I feel like a simpleton and not in any giving temperament.

False Sense of Urgency

Like #1, however the duplicity is more than shallow. Whether it is a telephone call, email or site article, there is frequently the opening line that persuades the association has something that will advantage me, and that needs to be followed up on RIGHT NOW. When I let them have my consideration , I rapidly understand that they are self serving and they are the particular case that’s vibe a feeling of criticalness… not me. The latest violater of this misguided feeling of direness, are blog entries that snare me into navigating to the article by teasing a feeling that I NEED to peruse it! NOTE: If you discovered this article on facebook, I simply did it to you!

Auto-Renew Subscriptions

How frequently have you ended up naturally charged for a magazine, when you didn’t replenish? This is a showcasing strategy called quit promoting and deals, when the client (I utilize that term approximately) is charged without their insight, just on the grounds that their introductory buy period finished. Trust it or not, a few associations will accept that in the event that you have been a supporter for various years, they will expect that you will need to proceed with your backing in the event that they are not able to achieve you in individual, and put a repeating promise on the books. In the event that you didn’t select in for the gift, chances are that it will leave a terrible taste in your mouth. No giving ought to do that.

The Bait & Tackle

Numerous associations do outstanding work drawing in individuals through administration and volunteerism just to rapidly turn on them for budgetary backing. Snare them with volunteerism and after that handle them with gift demands. One of the greatest aggressors of this is the American Red Cross. When you give blood you can expect a torrent of telephone calls from the American Red Cross approaching you for gifts. It is upsetting, problematic, and a disloyalty of your time and vitalit