Marc’s Musings

 

   I offer my high-energy Institute seminars live individual clients and groups like CASE/NAIS & Blackbaud’s Conference on Philanthropy.
Contact me if you’re interested in having me speak to your organization, board, or association.

Some are available in downloadable audio through CharityUniversity.
The Creating Donor Evangelists Audio Program is available for purchase on CD.

 

The Nonprofit Fundraising Institute

Fundraising 101
Raising money for nonprofits isn’t rocket science but it’s not all common sense either. This seminar will share some easy-to-apply principles based on decades of fundraising excellence. This is helpful both for people new to the field and for experienced pros.

You’ll learn:

• the only 3 types of communication you’ll need
• how many times to say “thank you” between solicitations
• the difference between annual funds, capital campaigns, and endowments
• a simple model for your setting up a fundraising effort
  

Asking for Money
Asking for money is as scary for people as death and public speaking. But it doesn’t have to be! Learn a simple “R.E.A.L.” method that takes much of the fear out of the process. This workshop is perfect for nonprofit employees and volunteers and will give you proven techniques to improve your fundraising skills.

You’ll learn:

• 7 most common mistakes people make
• a simple 3-step tool to help you articulate your message
• and a simple 4-part system to structure your solicitation
  

Asking for Money II: How to Handle Objections
You’ve asked a prospective donor for money but they don’t respond with a “yes” or a “no.” What do you do? This workshop will help you create strategies to handle objections before you meet with your prospect and when you are face-to-face with them.

You’ll learn:

• 5 things to like about objections
• 4 times to handle objections
• practical phrases to use when you’re talking with the prospect
  

Creating Donor Evangelists
Do you know how to move your donors from check writers to raving fans? Is donor relations seen as the crowning jewel of your advancement effort or as a second class citizen? This seminar explores the exciting, practical concepts in Jackie Huba’s and Ben McConnell’s book Creating Customer Evangelists and how they apply to nonprofit development. Fundraising isn’t getting easier. Find out how you can make your organization stand out from the herd…without spending lots of money.

You’ll learn:

• 4 practical ways to build buzz,
• 7 ways to build to create community within your donor base
• how Napster can help your nonprofit,
• and what food courts around that country know that may revolutionize your fundraising efforts
  

Keeping the Plates Spinning: Time Management & Goal Setting in a Small Office 
How do you balance interruptions and planning? How do you meet your departmental goals when the priorities change daily or hourly? How do you keep all the plates spinning and determine which plates are truly important? When schedules are tight, every unexpected occurrence impacts your entire day. No matter how small the interruption, the ripple effects may be felt throughout your organization! You’ll walk away from this session with tools you can use immediately to help you regain a measure of sanity in your work day. Big offices find this helpful too!

You’ll learn:

• 6 powerful tools to help tame the task-list tiger
• how minding your P’s and Q’s can be crucial to getting your important things done
• 4 steps to identifying which goals give you the most return on your investment of time
• and practical ways to “manage up” so that your supervisor or board understands what you do
  

Capital Campaigns for Beginners 
Every nonprofit seems to be conducting a capital campaign. Is this the best use of you organizations time and resources? Come to learn the basic, easy-to-understand overview of the process of preparing for and conducting a capital campaign.

You’ll learn:

• the 3-parts of a campaign
• the typical flow of a campaign from feasibility study to public celebration
• a simple tool to help you set your campaign goal
• 4 different capital campaign models
• and tips on hiring outside counsel
  

Coordinating Your Communications: Reinforcing Your Image to Raise More Money
So often our nonprofits have publications “because everyone else does” without evaluating their effectiveness. This seminar will help you take a fresh assessment of your communications and give you practical tools to more effectively share your message.

You’ll learn:

• 10 easy steps to make your e-mail more effective
• a simple 3-step process to coordinating all of your organization’s communication
• best practices for direct mail, websites, and print publications
  

Boards 101
Whether you work for a nonprofit or you’re on the board, chances are you haven’t been trained in the appropriate roles of the board. Come and learn the roles a board is supposed to play and ways to increase effective communication with the board and the nonprofit staff. This seminar is great for both board members and employees of nonprofits.

You’ll learn:

• the 2 major jobs of the board
• tips to help board meetings be more productive
• 4 major mistakes board members make
• simple tools to help the board chair communicate with the executive director