Posts by Mary Walker
Does Your Nonprofit Need Directors Insurance?
I have been very surprised lately to learn how many nonprofits do not carry Directors and Officers Insurance. So many in fact, that I decided to take a deeper dive into the issue.
Read MoreFour FREE Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your NonProfit
It’s a short week. Here’s a short list of good (and free) ideas that can improve your nonprofit right no ONE) REVISIT YOUR FRONT DOOR EXPERIENCE Park and walk into your primary building as if you are visiting it for the first time. If you are not sure you can be objective, bring an honest…
Read MoreFive Smart Things to Know About Your Donors Right Now
Now is a fantastic time to accelerate your gift-asking strategy. Here’s why. 1. Your donor probably has a portfolio full of appreciated stock. If your donor has money invested in the market right now, he could have stocks up 100%, 200%, or even 300% from their original purchase price. (In fact, if he DOESN’T have…
Read MoreWhat I Learned from the Tooth Fairy
When my kids were in elementary school, I so enjoyed playing the part of the tooth fairy. At our house, the tooth fairy left a dollar coin for each tooth. For my kids, this was a “whole dollar” to spend or save and really cool coinage that didn’t usually show up in mom’s purse. But,…
Read MoreSeven Simple Things to do Right Now to Increase Board Engagement
Nonprofit boards can be hard. And leading this group of essential volunteers can feel like herding cats. A long-term board engagement strategy is always my best recommendation. But in the short run, here are few tips to help board chairs get started on the journey. 1) Read your mission statement out loud: At. Every. Single.…
Read MoreParking Lot Conversations
I’ve been trying to put my finger on exactly what I’m missing since the world shut down last spring. Except for a few days wondering about toilet paper supplies, all my basic needs have been met. Most of my nonprofit clients are operational, and I can work via email and phone. So, why then, do…
Read MoreFor Pete’s Sake, ASK!
I’m still not sure who Pete is. But he makes a very good point about asking donors for financial support during the pandemic. As fundraising professionals, we may need to rethink how quietly we are collectively sitting. I have run into many nonprofits who are frustrated by a decline in revenue numbers. “Our sponsorship donations…
Read MoreThe Pink Shoe Posse
I was once asked to work with a nonprofit which held an annual outdoor dog performance show (think frisbees and obstacles courses) as a fundraiser.* The event had been historically volunteer-managed and raised about $20K per year, but had grown stale and needed a new strategy for growth. After the dog show chairman and I…
Read MoreMarketing for Churches? A Wedding Venue Case Study
A friend of mine lamented that couples aren’t getting married in churches anymore. I didn’t think much about this until my own daughter started planning her wedding. The differences in our experiences at private venues and churches were rather eyebrow-raising…and got me thinking…should these churches be thinking about “marketing” their wedding opportunities? First, we visited…
Read MoreDoes Your Nonprofit Need a Staff Board Liaison?
Back in the day, nonprofit boards had a Secretary. This person, often the actual personal assistant of the Board Chair from his work life, completed all the administrative duties needed for the board. She (because traditionally this was a woman) would take minutes, keep records, and perform all the necessary administrative functions of the board.…
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