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The inspiration you crave, and how to get it
You can help inspiration strike! This past Sunday we celebrated Epiphany in my church. A friend gave the sermon. She spoke about epiphanies of the religious sort, but also about the epiphanies we...
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How to leave your job
I resigned my position a couple of weeks ago. It was a difficult decision, but for a host of reasons both personal and professional, it was also the right decision. Before I actually resigned, I did a...
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Are you faking it?
Every day I’m fortunate to interact with talented people from all over the world. (Thank you, interwebz). One common thread too many of us share: a sense that perhaps we’re not quite good enough....
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Counting steps
Since mid-July, I’ve been counting steps. (The idea is to log 10,000 steps each day.) I started during vacation, when we tend to walk a lot. Then I decided to keep going. I downloaded a little app...
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Saving the world, losing your mind
The Association of Fundraising Professionals says 75% of fundraisers are women. and A Harvard Business School study shows that however lofty her professional position, family issues are still seen...
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Gratitude is a blessing
On the day we in the US usually stop for at least a moment to think about our blessings, I want to thank you. Thank you to my old friends, who do me the favor of reading these posts. Thank you to my...
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Let your light shine
It’s the time of year when light is a potent symbol across cultures. My family will celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. You may observe others. Whatever holidays you celebrate, it’s not hard to see why...
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Fundraising bloopers: I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours
Sometimes mistakes are the wake-up call we need Have you ever made a fundraising mistake? I’m hoping you answer “yes”. Mistakes are important in our field. We’re adding daily to our knowledge of...
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Oops! What you learned from your fundraising #fail
Last week I wrote about fundraising mistakes. They’re important, because they’re a wonderful, if sometimes painful, way to learn. I asked for your contributions. So this week, we’ll hear from some...
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You got this. Advice for a new fundraiser.
I spent last weekend at my alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College. I went for graduation (and meetings). I came home with more than that. During the weekend, I had the chance to talk with...
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Your work or a life: a painful choice no one should have to make
In the United States, recent polls found that 70 percent of American workers consider their workplace a significant source of stress, whereas 51 percent report job stress reduces their productivity....
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Is philanthropy “women’s work”?
And what does that mean? A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about the struggles of balancing work and life – especially for those of us in the nonprofit world. Many of you read it, shared it,...
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Do you want to be good enough?
It’s Christmas week. I don’t have a post ready to go. Instead, I’ve been busy thinking and shopping and running through lists in my head. I get lovely cards from friends every day. I haven’t even taken...
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To my younger fundraising self – and maybe you
I was an accidental fundraiser. There wasn’t a grand plan in place. It’s just that once I left one terrific regional theater, I wanted to work in another. And I felt the one area I hadn’t gotten a...
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Is unicorn guilt hurting your cause?
Feeling like it’s all on you? I’ve been involved recently in several conversations with other nonprofit professionals on an important topic. For nonprofit people, balancing life and work is always an...
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Are you worried about new overtime rules?
Be the change that you wish to see in the world. ~Mahatma Gandhi Let’s be the change Last week, the Obama administration issued new labor rules about overtime. Salaried employees who earn less than...
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Do I have to care today?
A personal note: I wrote this before Dallas. Before Alton Sterling. Before Philando Castile. Before Orlando, Dhaka, Istanbul, Iraq and so much more. I was responding to personal stuff – the loss of my...
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How to avoid the magic fundraiser trap
This is why we can’t have nice things. I’m writing this on Labor Day. Maybe that’s fitting. I woke this morning to an email with a job posting. I keep reading these announcements out of curiosity. I...
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We are needed
My usual post went out yesterday. If you’re looking for help writing an appeal, you can find it here. But after last night, I had to write to you again. First, to recommend Vu’s post from last night:...
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Being grateful makes you and your donors happier
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us....
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