Just Ask - Rethinking Development

Welcome back to part three of a four part series on Mission Effectiveness! There is one element to Mission Effectiveness that often gets overlooked: Courage.

Welcome back to part two of a four part series on Mission Effectiveness! In this episode, Greg takes us into the importance of organization having a strategy. Strategic is a word that gets thrown around. What makes a decision truly strategic? Once you have that, how do you ensure it gets implemented? Greg shares how strategy can elevate your team.

Welcome to part one of a four part series on Mission Effectiveness! The inspiration for this series came from an article by Jake Stanley from the Amazing Parish that was featured in the October 2023 issue of Catechetical Review. The article deals with Ministry Burnout. This begs the question: why do good employees in the non-profit world burnout so frequently? In this episode, Greg and Bryan discu...

Battling the unseen. When you are trying to do something beautiful for God, understand the forces against you. Greg dives into an exploration of the mystical encounter, both good and bad, and shares what this means for you as a fundraiser.

The Startup – Choosing Database Software. Your parish decided to start a development program to support the parish and school. Greg offers advice on step one-setting up a development database.

The Startup – Finding Your First Donors. You’ve just started a non-profit, and you don’t even have a prospect list. Here’s ideas on how to get started.

With the new year upon us, the time to set a solid fundraising strategy is here. One of the challenges non-profits face is too many “good” things to focus our time on. So what are the most essential tasks for you to focus on for fundraising? Bryan shares five things you can do to kickstart your fundraising in 2024.

Greg recounts how a donor recently told him, “Asking is the easy part.” Listen in on why that transformed his thinking about fundraising.

What can motivate individuals to give beyond what seems possible? Today Greg talks about the relationship between God and Money. Specifically, he shares a real life study on Warsaw, the Dentist and the Great Flood of ’97.

Bryan and Greg share perhaps the most important skill a development officer can master: the art of listening. In this episode, you’ll learn about listening on a deeper level and uncover what it takes to really get to know someone.

There’s a saying in show biz, “No one wants you ‘til everyone wants you.” Bryan explains how that principle applies to non-profits, as he recounts the growth of St. Paul’s Newman Center in Fargo, ND.

Why is the first campaign the most difficult? Greg shares some words of encouragement to those launching their first capital campaign. Odds are it will be the most difficult campaign your non-profit will undertake. Greg shares why that is and why you can take heart in the major groundwork your efforts will produce.

Is there any replacement for a firsthand experience? Some of the most loyal donors of your non-profit had their own firsthand experiences with your cause. So how can you give a firsthand experience to donors who are new to your charity? Greg and Bryan share practical ways to bring donors closer to the mission.

Every campaign will face challenges and setbacks. So what do you do when these challenges cause your campaign to stall? Bryan and Greg continue their conversation on how you can break out of a stall in your fundraising efforts. This is part two of a two part series.

In every campaign, you encounter challenges and setbacks. So what do you do when these challenges cause your campaign to stall? Bryan shares what steps helped his non-profit to overcome a stall of a goal rising by over $10 million. This is part one of a two part series.

Despite your best efforts in fundraising, you will inevitably be met with a hard truth: some donors just aren’t that into you. Given this reality, what can you do to still build organizational trust? Bryan discusses how to navigate a donor relationship even if you, as the fundraiser, are not their cup of tea.

You asked, you waited. Still no decision. What could be holding up a major donor’s decision? Perhaps you need to suggest a ‘contingent pledge.’ Here’s how it works.

Development can be a grind. When you work for a non-profit, there will never be a time when your mission no longer needs funding. Add on a substantial campaign, and you’re already full schedule is about to expand. The grind can takes it toll. But as Father Henry Nouwen once said, “Fundraising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry.” That said, how can we as fundraisers not lose sight of the ul...

Have you ever spent considerable time convincing someone of an idea or a beneficial partnership? Chances are, if you’re a fundraiser, this is part of you’re job description. But, you can actually save yourself time and hassle by first asking the question: am I trying to convince the wrong person? Listen as Bryan shares why your proposals might be falling on deaf ears.

A common problem within the fundraising world is the attachment of donors to individuals rather than organizations. Greg highlights the problem a non-profit founder can face when all the best donors are their own direct contacts. How do you build better organizational relationships with donors that go beyond their friendship with any one individual? Listen as Greg shares tangible ways to address t...

Is diversity always a good thing? It depends upon your definition. Greg talks about what is the actual Catholic understanding of diversity as well as how the distorted modern view of diversity is affecting our Catholic institutions.

Greg and Bryan continue their conversation on the changing Catholic donor base and what this means for your non-profit.

What will happen to the Catholic donor base over the next 15-20 years? It is no secret that younger Americans are becoming less and less religiously affiliated. At the same time, the most supportive Catholic benefactors are getting older. In part one of a two part series, Greg and Bryan discuss why there is an imminent cash flow crisis coming to Catholic non-profits.

When a need to raise considerable funds comes up, you’ll most likely look to hire a consultant. The question then becomes, we do you trust? Before you blindly choose the big shiny firm, Bryan and Greg invite you to stop and ask a few common sense questions. It just might save your non-profit time and money.

How do you know when it’s time to cancel the event? You know the one. It’s the one that comes up annually and your organization has been doing it for years. But, is it really worth the time, energy, and resources to have the event? Bryan and Greg tackle the reasons why you should or should not have a fundraising event.