What an Alumni Director Taught Me About All Donors
Every organization has people who have been showing up for years without anyone paying much attention to them.
Thoughtful Insights
Perspectives on philanthropy and organizational effectiveness
Thoughts on fundraising strategy, donor psychology, leadership, and the dynamics of organizational change.
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Introducing H. Aldervan Daly & Associates
A new home for The Thoughtful Approach, and a fundraising practice built around it.
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To Survey or Not to Survey? Why Donor Surveys Matter – Part Two
What should a donor survey include? If you have not read last month’s post on why donor surveys matter, you may want to start there.…
Recent Articles
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Asset or Liability
A board is either a fundraising asset, or it’s a liability with a title. Which is yours?
1 min readRead More →: Asset or Liability -
As We Prepare for Fall Work Schedules
I was reminded of this TED Talk video I posted in 2024. I think the sentiment is even truer now.…
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Quiet Quitting: It’s only gotten worse
Has the virtual work space made this even more prevalent? As a manager how do you know if your team…
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The Art of Persuasive Storytelling | Kelly D. Parker | TED
“Storytelling is one of the most powerful marketing and leadership tools there is,” says communications expert Kelly D. Parker. She…
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What Water Aerobics Taught Me About Fundraising
Good fundraising is not magic. It is not manipulation. It is not finding the perfect sentence that suddenly makes someone…
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When Your Board Will Not Stand Behind Its Own Number
I want to make the case for the half of that sentence almost nobody makes. Directors are stewards of the…
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Do You Really Need a Fancy Case for Support?
The case for support has become an industry unto itself. But does a glossy document actually help you raise more…
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The Gift-in-Kind Question
When a donor offers goods or services instead of cash, how do you respond thoughtfully while protecting organizational interests?
1 min readRead More →: The Gift-in-Kind Question -
Reclaiming Connection: Fundraisers as Helping Professionals
Published in AFP’s Advancing Philanthropy, this piece explores how fundraisers can reclaim their identity as helping professionals rather than salespeople.
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