Emerging Executive

Start off 2017 with a Fundraising Plan 

Why do you need to do develop a fundraising plan?  So your fundraising activities are proactive, organized, visible and most importantly – successful!

Developing a well- crafted fundraising plan provides you the opportunity to articulate your financial vision for the organization. It should clearly identify tangible and realistic goals that are achievable using different income sources. Depending on the size of your organization, fundraising activities can include a range of approaches including grants, gala events, gifts from both board member and other individuals, and major donor sponsorships. Your fundraising plan should be a living document, like a dashboard, that provides your board with an ongoing snapshot of how well you are doing in meeting your fundraising goals and identify when you may need to take corrective action. 

To learn more about how to set up an effective fundraising plan, visit www.emergingexecutive.com/resources and download the webinar on Fundraising Planning.  It’s one in a series of useful and simple to understand webinars designed to give you an overview of how to maximize your fundraising strategies.  

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Training Others how to Treat Us!

When I first moved to the US in 1996, I was working as VP of Marketing in Silicon Valley.  It was an exhausting 24/7 job, characterized by high-energy, high-power, and high expectations.  I was known as the person who always got things done. I wore that badge of honor with pride, even though that meant responding to emails at 3 AM.  I would spend my nights semi-sleeping, just waiting for the next ping or a red flagged email in Lotus Notes to come my way. Of course, I just had to respond immediately in order to maintain my reputation.  And the more I responded, the more work came my way.  By 2002, I had done myself in, and had to go out on disability with a repetitive strain injury.  I was angry, conflicted and scared.  More importantly, I placed all the blame on the company for demanding too much work and being poorly organized. 
 
Unfortunately, I had failed to identify and understand my role in creating the situation.  It took a long time working with my coach to finally come to terms with this.  In my zeal to impress, I had successfully trained everyone that I was available at their disposal at all hours of the day and night. The word ‘boundaries’ did not exist in my vocabulary.  I finally recognized that I was at least 50% responsible for creating this situation.

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Recruiting the Right Board Members in 2017

When a nonprofit organization starts the board is typically friends of the founder(s).  As the organization grows, it’s important to bring in new skills and connections that can take the organization to the next level. All too often you find organizations chasing the same group of people to become a board member. 

So where do you start?  The first thing you want to do is complete a board skills matrix.  Who are the current board members, what skills and connections do they have, and what are their terms of office?  I often find the same person has been board chair of the nonprofit for somewhere between 10 and 25 years.  This is because in so many cases, there is no ongoing recruitment - typically done by a nominations committee - to bring in new skills and committed people to the organization.

Next step: brainstorm with staff and board members about the next level of connection to fill in the gaps.  Read more....

For further information and to download a board skills matrix visit.
www.emergingexecutive.com/resources

Save the Date:  March 25, 2017 Institute for Trustees

The Institute for Trustees is an all-day conference for boards of directors, boards of trustees and executive directors of nonprofit organizations. This annual event features presentations from the region's leading experts on board development, financial sustainability, fundraising, strategic planning, board/staff relations and more. The day promotes thought provoking discussion on timely topics facing boards of all sizes and expertise, as well as networking opportunities with hundreds of peers equally committed to their leadership roles.

For a look at what the IFT is all about, please watch: CATCH THE SPIRIT!

Save the Date!

March 25, 2017 
8:30 - 4:30pm
Pingree School, Hamilton MA

View Agenda

Does Your Organization Have a Giving Common Profile?

The Giving Common is an initiative sponsored by the Boston Foundation. It provides a detailed, online resource that connects you to in-depth information about nonprofit organizations working to enhance communities across Massachusetts.  One of the great things about having a Giving Common profile is that it automatically uploads data to GuideStar.  So when a donor logs on to GuideStar, they see a complete profile of your organization versus a blank page with only your organization’s name.

A Giving Common allows your nonprofit organization the opportunity to tell your story in your own words in an organized, detailed way.  Visitors to the site can search by issue area, geography and other variables with the option to “donate now” with their credit card or through Boston Foundation Donor Advised Fund. 

Many MA based funders now require you to have a Giving Common profile.  So what a better time to complete one! For more information,  contact GivingCommon@tbf.org or call at 617-338-1623.

On the Lighter Side

A movie holiday catch up before the Oscars!  Highly recommend Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight La La Land and especially Moonlight and Lion.  These movies take you on a journey of emotions!

Want to read but not up for a novel?  Try Experience Life magazine.

A Quick Reminder

Our services at Emerging Executive help nonprofit organizations through the most appropriate combination of consulting, executive coaching, or training for your organization, and always incorporates practical experience and feedback. Services include: board and leadership development, executive coaching, strategic planning, and grant writing.