| Welcome
to Ventures in Philanthropy E-Newsletter |
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| Soaring
with Eagles |
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| Linda
Lysakowski, ACFRE |
A few weeks ago I had a great experience on
the Flghtline (advertised as a Zipline on
Steroids) flying through Bootleg Canyon in
Boulder City, NV. (For an up close look
at my experience see www.YouTube.com/LindaLysakowski.) |
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This
experience taught me a couple of things that
relate quite well to the world of philanthropy
& development.
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- If you want to soar with the eagles
you first have to get to the top of the
mountain. The worst part of the whole
experience was the walk up to the first
platform, uphill on a dirt path about
4000 feet above sea level. Lesson learned:
Getting to the top of your profession
is not always easy, sometimes the air
is thin, the steps are steep, and the
path is rough.
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- The older, weaker ones can sometimes
fall behind. (Everyone else on the trip
was in their 20s or 30s. I think I was
for sure the first great grandmother of
seven who experienced this flghtline,
but our guides were really patient and
encouraging). Lesson learned: We need
to keep up with the latest technology
and techniques in fundraising, or we will
be left behind. For those of you who have
been in this profession a while, don't
be afraid to seek out your younger colleagues—you
might learn something from them!
- Once you're at the top, the view is
spectacular and it is worth the climb.
We could see Las Vegas, Boulder City,
Hoover Dam and the new bridge being built
across the Colorado River once we got
to the top. Lesson learned: Find a
mentor, a person who has gotten to the
top of their profession and ask them to
share their views with you.
- You have to accept help from others
sometimes. Our guides were wonderful and
when I found out I not only had to climb
that hill but was supposed to carry a
metal "trolley" (the part that held us
onto the cable) that weighed about 10
pounds, I sort of groaned, and the guide
said, "don't worry I'll carry it for you."
Lesson learned: Sometimes we think
we have to "do it all ourselves" but when
someone offers help to teach us about
some aspect of development, take all the
help you can get—involve others in
your organization who can offer assistance.
Fundraising, after all, is everybody's
business in a nonprofit.
- It's all about trust! We had to trust
the judgment of our guides to hook us
up correctly, to know each step in the
process and to tell us when to move into
different positions to increase speed
or slow down. Lesson learned: The
public trusts us, as nonprofits, to use
their donations wisely. Don't ever let
them lose that trust in your nonprofit
organization.
- Flexibility is critical. We had to learn
a few different positions that would get
us to our end goal (the Starfish, the
Bullet, the Braking position, and the
Cannonball) and we had to quickly adopt
the correct position. Lesson learned:
In the field of development we have to
be flexible—knowing when to make the ask
or to pull back if the donor isn't ready
to make a commitment yet, learning new
software systems, dealing with new management
and governance are just a few of the things
development officers must learn.
- Sometimes we don't make our goal. We
took the flghtline on a very windy day
and on one of the runs (the longest one—about
a mile and half long) we faced severe
headwinds which meant that none of us,
including our guides, made to the destination
platform. Lesson learned: Don't have
a development plan without a contingency
that includes several fundraising methods
in case one falls short of its goal.
- Sometimes you need to be "rescued."
Once we stopped short of our goal, we
had to hang suspended on the cable until
the guides came out with a 300 foot rope
to pull us in. Watching that guide get
closer and closer to me was really a powerful
experience. Lesson learned: Always
allow yourself to get rescued by someone
who may have more experience than you.
If you start a project and know you aren't
going to make it to your goal, call for
help! A consultant may be able to help
guide you in safely.
- Like the Boy Scouts, always be prepared.
Starting the trip with no extras like
loose jewelry or a purse was critical.
But having a bottle of water and camera
was essential. Lesson learned: Sometimes
we load ourselves down with baggage we
don't need, like getting overloaded with
special events or worrying about having
all the research we need before making
the ask, but we forget some of the basics
like listening to the donor, and having
the essentials like a development plan
and a strong case for support in place.
- Enjoy the ride! Once you fly down that
mountain at 55 miles per hour, the climb
is well worth it. Lesson learned:
Enjoy your success. Take time to celebrate
philanthropy and enjoy your work.
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| Technology
Series Workshops Begin This Month |
CAPITAL VENTURE
is offering a series of four technology workshops
over the next few months in Las Vegas. Quickbooks
for Nonprofits is the first one, a half-day
session with an option to stay for advanced
training in the afternoon. If you are using
Quickbooks for Nonprofits, or plan to use
it in the near future for your organization,
this should be a 'must do!' on your task list.
The three seminars following it are intensive,
half-day sessions that provide a wealth
of information about maximizing your nonprofit
website, integrating online marketing with
print, social networking, online fundraising,
and too many other topics to list in this
newsletter. The first of the three explores
your website, the second builds on that
to include your office technology, and the
third adds social marketing to complete
a comprehensive, electronic learning experience.
It isn't necessary to attend all four,
but these are some of the best workshops
we've ever presented and we believe you'll
be back for all your schedule allows.
For more information or to register, please
click on the following links:
April 28, 2009: Quickbooks
for Nonprofits
May 19, 2009: Getting
the Most Out of Your Nonprofit Website
June 16, 2009: Nonprofit
Technology for Your Organization
July 21, 2009: Social Marketing for Nonprofits
(not posted on the website yet)
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| Starting
a Development Office? |
We recognize that many of our readers represent
smaller, grassroots nonprofits that may not
have a development office. Well, guess what,
we've been there too! One of my first development
jobs was starting a development office in
a museum that had been around for a number
of years but had previously been publicly
funded. My task was to start a development
office from scratch. Most of our staff members
at CAPITAL VENTURE
have also been in this situation so we thought
we would offer some tips to help you start
your development office.
Tip
number one: Michael Sand, Esq. and
I have a new book, Essential
Nonprofit Fundraising Handbook: Getting the
Money You Need from Individuals, Businesses,
Foundations, and Government Agencies,
available in July. It's a culmination of the
experience we've acquired over many years
helping nonprofits and we're both excited
to share it with you.
Tip number two: Attend one
of our special workshops on starting a development
office. The first one will be held in just
a few short weeks—April 17 at Lake Tahoe.
There is still time to register.
This workshop will also include tips on choosing
software to manage your development program.
Tip number three: Find
a copy of the AFP Ready Reference book, Establishing
Your Development Office, available
through AFP and keep it close at hand. A limited
number will be available at the April 17 workshop.
Tip number four:
Remember that it takes money to make money.
Starting development office will require you
to budget for: staff, donor software, training,
resources for researching potential funders,
and more.
Tip number five:
Check out the 2nd Q 2009 special on our website,
Development
Office Start Up. It's one
of the best deals we'll be offering this year.
Tip number six: Visit the
CAPITAL
VENTURE website!
You'll find over 200 free tutorials, tips
and tools there, plus many other resources
— all there, especially for you!
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| Special
Offer for 2nd Quarter 2009! |
If your organization is planning to start
a development office this year, don’t miss
this opportunity for savings! CAPITAL
VENTURE is offering our start up program
at a discounted price for clients who schedule
before June 30, 2009 for start up before August
31, 2009.
In today’s economy, we know how important
it is for you to maximize your budget and
for your office to be cost-effective and successful
immediately. The CAPITAL VENTURE
program is a culmination of years of experience
setting up development offices for nonprofits
covering every area of interest and service.
The offer includes:
- An SWOT analysis of your organization's
readiness for a development program including
a report of areas in which your organization
can build its program.
- A budget for your start-up development
office.
- A job description for your development
officer.
- A list of resources you should buy for
the development office.
- A two-hour training session for your
board on what to expect from the development
office.
- AFP Ready Reference book Establishing
Your Development Office.
- Consultant on Call support via phone
and email for 60 days.
For details, please click
here.
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| Technology
Corner — New Technology at the AFP Conference |
It's
no surprise that the AFP Conference in New
Orleans last week was a great opportunity
to see the newest technology up close.
If you weren't able to attend, the following
article from Nonprofit
Technology News gives an excellent
overview of the latest innovations.
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Tech
Firms Introduce New Products At AFP Gathering
by Susan Buchanan
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Technology
firms attending the Association of Fundraising
Professionals International Conference in
New Orleans in late March unveiled upgraded
internet tools and ways to keep clients' costs
down and also focused on integrating social-network
practices in software solutions.
Blackbaud, Inc., the top provider of non-profit
software, and PayPal, a leading online-payment
service, introduced BlackbaudNow, offering
a point-and-click, website builder for secure
donations and recording donor histories.
Melanie Mathos, Blackbaud spokeswoman, said
100,000 nonprofit groups already use PayPal
for payment processing and that Now's simple,
template solution is especially useful for
nonprofits that need immediate access to web
tools.
The company also unveiled Blackbaud NetCommunity
Grow, providing a content-management system,
how-to's on multi-channel and email campaigns
and newsletters, and interactive data on causes
important to donors. NetCommunity Grow is
integrated with the company's “The Raiser's
Edge” fundraising software, Mathos said,
reducing the time a fundraiser spends on administrative
tasks.
Steve Rusche, CEO of eTapestry, said new initiatives
at his company include a module allowing organizations
to provide constituents with a personal web
page for raising funds from family and friends.
The module is useful for team and event fund
raising and other viral or grassroots activities.
eTapestry is also offering a new shopping-cart
module that lets organizations sell merchandise
or services via a website, in addition to
online giving.
In reference to eTapestry clients, Rusche
said that if a non profit organization doesn't
raise more money in the first year after implementing
eTapestry than the previous year, the company
will provide a year of free service. “We'll
be good for each other-- or it's a free offer,”
he said. Please
click here to read more.
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| 2009
CAPITAL VENTURE
Premiere Series Workshops |
We are offering some very special workshops
in 2009 to help you strengthen your fundraising
efforts. All these will be half day, interactive
workshops. More details will follow in future
newsletters. In the meantime, please save
the dates!
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April
17
May 12
June 11
July 15
August 13
September 24
October 14
December 8
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Establishing
a Development Office
Are
You Ready for a Capital Campaign?
Are
You Ready for a Capital Campaign?
Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign?
Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign?
What Do Major Donors Really Want?
Developing Your Case for Support
Are you Ready for a Capital Campaign? |
Lake
Tahoe, NV
Reading , PA
Las Vegas, NV
Reno, NV
Harrisburg, PA
Las Vegas, NV
Reno, NV
Philadelphia , PA |
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| Upcoming
Workshops |
April 7, 2009
PANO
The Development Plan:
The Foundation of Success
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Webinar
Click
here for details
April
17, 2009
CAPITAL VENTURE
Starting a Development Office
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Mike Kierce, eTapestry
Zephyr
Cove, NV
Click
here for details
April
22, 2009
PANO
Involving
Volunteers in Fundraising
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Webinar
Click
here for details
April
28, 2009
CAPITAL VENTURE
Technology Workshop:
Quickbooks for Nonprofits
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Kathryn Short
Las Vegas, NV
Click
here for details
May 11, 2009
PANO
The
Development Plan
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Williamsport,
PA
Contact
Linda for details
May 12, 2009
CAPITAL VENTURE
Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign
& Using Technology Effectively
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Reading,
PA
Click
here for details
May
19, 2009
CAPITAL VENTURE
Technology Workshop:
Nonprofit Websites
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Kathryn Short
Las Vegas, NV
Click
here for details
June
8, 2009
Pennsylvania Downtown Center
The
Development Plan:
The Foundation of Success
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Johnstown,
PA
Click
here for details
June 11, 2009
CAPITAL VENTURE
Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Las
Vegas, NV
Click
here for details
June
16, 2009
CAPITAL VENTURE
Technology Workshop:
Nonprofit Technology for
Your Organization
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
Kathryn Short
Las Vegas, NV
Click
here for details |
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| Contact
Us |
CAPITAL
VENTURE Associates
are located throughout
the United States.
Call to find the one closest to you.
(866) 539-9990 toll free
Administrative Office:
P O Box 731
Reading, PA 19607
Executive Office:
10245 S. Maryland Pkwy., Ste. 1188
Las Vegas, NV 89183
866-539-9990 toll free
702-892-0955 voice
702-892-0655 fax
Email:
info@cvfundraising.com
Website:
www.cvfundraising.com
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