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For leaders and ops team members at small to midsize nonprofits to get guidance, uplifting, and resources for nonprofit data, database, and operations.
Ops Insights #053 - Ambassadors Refer Potential Donors
An Ambassador Program is a way to drive referrals of potential donors. Ambassadors have existing relationships and serve as connectors to potential donors they know who care about your nonprofit, such as individuals you serve, friends, or organizations. You can partner with various Ambassadors who pass referrals to your Philanthropy team. Let’s walk through the reasons you want ambassadors, the stages, and ways to track them.
Ops Insights #052 - Reasons to Build Organization-Wide Relationships
Building relationships outside the development office but still within your organization expands fundraising opportunities. The question you want to ask: How do we help those throughout our organization be involved?
Joe, Doug, and I talked about how we help others in the organization understand what we do in philanthropy and what their role can be in the development process. Which, in turn, creates more opportunities for conversations with potential donors. Let’s dive into what it takes.
Ops Insights #051 - 3 Things Donors Do Not Say
3 Things Donors Do Not Say: I gave because you have a clean database. I gave because you have timely reports. I gave because you have streamlined processes. You certainly do not. Rather, you hear donors say: I gave because you made a difference in my life. I gave because I want something changed for the better. I gave because I want to leave a legacy. Let’s talk through how this happens.
Ops Insights #050 - 3 Teaching Techniques that Increase Engagement
This edition is for my Ops peeps who do teaching, training, and mentoring. From teaching how to use the data or database to teaching how to get the computer to work, we get asked many “tech” questions in our roles. For me, this is exciting as teaching is one of my favorite parts of my work.
There's nothing like it to take someone from base level to more advanced to ah-ha light-bulb moments. When I see it finally click and their face lights up, it’s magical. Let’s dive into three teaching techniques to increase engagement.
Ops Insights #049 Get Uncomfortable to Stay Relevant
Think of that moment. The moment where you felt, wow, I nailed it. I nailed it for me, for our team, and for our organization. You pause, take a breath, smile, and say we are better because of it. How long ago was that? Why can’t you make that happen more often?
I’m here to tell you that you can, but you have to be willing to get uncomfortable. This actually is a must-do to stay relevant. Data, tech, and the fundraising landscape changes. If you are still operating the same way you were 5, 10, or 15 years ago, you are outdated. It’s never too late to get curious, lean in, and learn how to adjust, tweak, enhance, and evolve to make things better.
Ops Insights #048 Use History When You Have No Mentor
You are never truly alone unless you choose to be. In the nonprofit sector, there are tons of people who are willing to help. Find a mentor outside of your org if you need to. Find a group, a community, or a tribe to go through the journey with. You should never be alone and there are so many options out there today to lean into.
I am going to walk you through an example of how I took hold of a situation when there was no one to guide me, how I leaned in, and how I succeeded in hopes it can guide you in your journey.
Ops Insights #047 Organize to Ward off Stress
Summer is coming to an end and it’s time to adjust our routines to get back to fall schedules. If you are like me, it’s a time of adjustment, a time to reset your mindset and reclaim some habits that you let go of during the summer months. Let’s talk through what can help get you back into the swing of things.
Ops Insights #046 Interview Questions You Can Use
When looking for someone to join your team on the data, database, and operations side of the house, looking for someone who understands not just the database, but who understands people, data, and processes. You want someone who can sit as a trusted partner side-by-side with frontline fundraisers and talk about strategy and how the data and database can support the frontline strategies, but also can dive into the weeds and get things done. To find this person, let’s give you some interview questions you can use during interviews.
Ops Insights #044 Become a Futuristic Fixer
This edition is for my data and ops peers who are early to mid in their career and want to grow in their role by being a trusted go-to colleague. As we kick off summer and transition into new routines, I’ve been extra observant of who is a fixer. Let’s talk about the types of fixers, why you want to become a futuristic fixer, and steps you can take to get there.
Ops Insights #040 Introverts this Edition is for YOU
I can’t be in the room. What would I be asked? What would I say? How would I interact? The deep tightening in my stomach as I entered the room and then slipped to the back corner away from the center of it all. No one will notice me back here. No one will ask me anything. This is so uncomfortable, why am I here, get up, walk out, quick before the meeting starts. Sound familiar to anyone?
Ops Insights #036 Debrief from Nonprofits Leaders Summit
Listening to the Microsoft for Nonprofits Leaders Summit was reaffirming and inspiring. We were given permission that it’s okay not to know all the AI right now and the stronger message was we have to come together to learn and be part of developing AI over the next 5-10 years. We have to step up together and take a hold of it before it takes hold of us.
Ops Insights #035 Stop the Internal Drama
As I enter the room, I immediately feel the tension around the table. I squeeze by one individual typing away on her computer while I grab the last seat in the middle. On my right, more individuals were typing away at their computers, and on my left, a few were on their computers, and others were on their phones. No one was talking to anyone, heads down plugging away, but a sense of uncomfortable tension was in the air. First red flag.
Ops Insights #033 How to Say Goodbye to the Past Year
Did your last 30 days feel like this: go, go, go; make those calls, close those gifts, process those gifts, pump out those acknowledgments, make those thank you calls …all hands on deck.. go, go, go? It’s a normal part of fundraising, but it seems each year gets more and more intense with no break during any month of the calendar year. Let’s take a moment to take a breath, and as you head into another year, try not to clear the page and jump right into another year. Take a moment… what are you feeling?
Ops Insights #032 Philanthropy Operations Areas
Philanthropy operations is an essential functional area that takes ownership of data, CRM, and processes, and effectively partners cross-functionally to propel an organization's fundraising forward. Often leaders think of philanthropy operations as only CRM database management, but it goes beyond this and primarily consists of eight key areas. Let’s dive into these eight areas.
Ops Insights #031 Building Your Grateful Patient Program
Building a Grateful Patient Program can be a game-changer for your nonprofit organization if you work in healthcare philanthropy. Over the years, the terminology has shifted from building a Culture of Philanthropy to building a Culture of Gratitude or Generosity. Nonetheless, building and nurturing this type of program is key to maximizing the opportunities for patients to express their gratitude and contribute to your cause. Let’s walk through a guide to help you get started.
Ops Insights #030 Addressing Burnout in the #Nonprofit Workplace
As we navigate the challenges of the nonprofit sector, it's crucial to address burnout to ensure the well-being of our teams and the success of our nonprofit missions. In the spirit of combating burnout, Stephanie and I have been running a series of posts throughout November on LinkedIn to provide awareness and actionable steps for fundraising professionals like yourself.
Ops Insights #029 4 Go-To Tech Tools
There is nothing like tech tools that make your life easier. I thought I’d share four of them that I use often to help you in your daily work. Some of these are free, and others have a cost to them, but they are worth their price for me. I’ll explain why they are worthy as when we can find tech tools that make our work easier and better, I’m all in. Let’s dive in.
Ops Insights #028 Use CUE to Strengthen the Partnership
We have tremendous opportunities in the fundraising sector to strengthen the partnership between data and frontline professionals. Gone are the days when the data team was the “back office.” Today, data professionals should stand side-by-side with frontline professionals as true partners to drive fundraising efforts forward. One way we can strengthen this partnership is by learning and using CUE - Communication, Understanding, and Empathy. Let’s talk through it.
Ops Insights #027 Screening and Scoring
Finding and using research tools that prioritize engagement and likelihood over wealth is important in your fundraising efforts. Just because someone is wealthy does not mean they care about your cause to donate anything. And those who care greatly about your cause may give everything they have. Which means it’s important to do both.
Ops Insights #026 Research Profiles
If you are a small to midsize organization and one of your many duties is prospect research, this edition is for you. If prospect research is your entire role, you can skip this week, as this is for beginners with multiple roles. Often, when tasked with various roles, prospect research tends to get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. I’ve been there and got it, and I am here to help you with the basics.