Resources You Just Must—MUST—Check Out!

I read an enormous amount. How else can I learn? I believe in lifelong learning. I’ll bet you do, too; otherwise, how can you be the best professional possible?

I read an enormous amount…one of my fun things to do. And I learn from novels and songs, too.

So, early in this new year of 2014, I’m sharing some of my favorite resources in no particular order. Check them out. Spread them out over the month. But don’t wait all year! You’ll be missing tips for better fundraising and more.

• Jeremy Rifkin’s lecture and whiteboard presentation about empathy and creating an empathic civilization. For your communities and mine. For fundraising. For the philanthropic and nonprofit/NGO sectors.
• Check out Seth Godin’s brilliantblog post about email and permission marketing. While you’re at it, read Seth’s book, Permission Marketing. (And just stop these e-mail blasts right now—until you can get it together well.) Then read Seth’s blog post from November 29, 2013, about stories—donor stories, not stories of your organization.
• Read my Bloomerang blog about Eric Friedman’s book, Reinventing Philanthropy. What do you think? Is philanthropy broken? Watch out – this claim could be a problem!
• I’m late to the party, but have you seen the marvelous infographic, “The Rise of the Nonprofit Sector,” developed by the University of San Francisco to promote its Master of Public Administration program? Oh, my heavens. You’ll also find this infographic at Bloomerang, which I hope you’re checking out, too.
• Visit SOFII? The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration features the best of the best—examples from all over the world. New stuff includes Oxfam Canada’s outreach to donors, Pamela Grow’s 12 days of Christmas, and the latest list of fundraising must-reads. Visit my reading room about boards and governance. How about top tips from leading fundraisers? Maybe a nice way to start the new year.
• Subscribe to the Nonprofit Quarterly, both the daily online version and the quarterly print publication. Strategic. Thoughtful. Provocative. Just what I like.
• Subscribe to Roger Dooley’s Neuromarketing newsletter.
• Check out “Think Like a Buddhist, Sell Like a Rock Star.” Read about these statements:
  • People like to buy; they just don’t like to be sold. For example, donors do want to give.
  • People buy what they need from those who understand what they want. For example, operate as a donor-centered organization!
  • People buy with their hearts, and justify it with their minds. Emotions anyone? Neuroscience tells us that emotions are the key decision makers. Is that how your organization writes? Is that how your organization designs its development program?
• Look at the love pyramid from John Lepp of Toronto’s Agents of Good. The love pyramid can replace that typical donor pyramid. Just try it!
• Read Adrian Sargeant’s article from the Summer 2013 issue of Nonprofit Quarterly, “Donor Retention: What Do We Know and What Can We Do about It?” And then do it!
• Check out “Missing Pieces: Women and Minorities on Fortune 500 Boards.”
• Read Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit’s Journey by Dennis G. McMillian of Alaska’s Foraker Group. The Foraker Group is a nonprofit support organization that helps create strong nonprofits in Alaska. The Foraker Group reminds us that sustainability is not just financial! In fact, the book notes that funding “may not be the most important element.”
• Remember that pesky UnderDeveloped Report—a national study of challenges facing nonprofit fundraising. Did you read my three-part blog series posted in “Simone Uncensored” on January 19, 21, and 23, back in 2013?