latest news
Our Blog
Effective co-leadership: Board and Executive Director relationships
By Alexis De Sela Much has been written and discussed about the critical roles of, and relationship between, the Board of Directors and Executive Director of a nonprofit, and I don’t want to fall into redundancy with this article. However, as we’ve worked...
Effective co-leadership: Board and Executive Director relationships
By Alexis De Sela Much has been written and discussed about the critical roles of, and relationship between, the Board of Directors and Executive Director of a nonprofit, and I don’t want to fall into redundancy with this article. However, as we’ve worked...
To your credit: How should nonprofits handle credit card fees?
By Marion Lee, CFRE Donors were generous to local and state nonprofits at the end of 2018. At least, we think so, because we received quite a few calls and emails from friends and colleagues asking anew a question that has surfaced regularly for us since...
Giving days continue to achieve new records
Amplify Austin and the Big Give SA are two of the largest annual crowd funding efforts in our area. The fund drives continue to achieve record numbers of donors and dollars for agencies throughout South Texas. The 2019 Amplify Austin Day was held February...
Realizing the value of the Development professional
By Karen Kegg I had a business professor in college who would refer to us fun-loving, extremely extroverted marketing majors as “Do you want fries with that?” Nice! Granted, he was a finance and business policy guy and I respected him very much, but at the...
Realizing the value of the Development professional
By Karen Kegg I had a business professor in college who would refer to us fun-loving, extremely extroverted marketing majors as “Do you want fries with that?” Nice! Granted, he was a finance and business policy guy and I respected him very much, but at the...
Fundraising “legend” Mike Davis to retire
Michael D. “Mike” Davis, veteran fundraiser and nonprofit “legend” in San Antonio, will retire at the end of February after serving 47 years in various development roles for several area nonprofits. Davis began his career at University of the Incarnate Word...
Fundraising “legend” Mike Davis to retire
Michael D. “Mike” Davis, veteran fundraiser and nonprofit “legend” in San Antonio, will retire at the end of February after serving 47 years in various development roles for several area nonprofits. Davis began his career at University of the Incarnate Word...
Before your next campaign consider the “Hidden Phase”
By Marion Lee, CFRE James M. Greenfield is, for me, the father of modern fundraising processes. In 1991, Greenfield published Fund Raising: Evaluating and Managing the Fund Development Process which is a must read for anyone entering nonprofit...
Before your next campaign consider the “Hidden Phase”
By Marion Lee, CFRE James M. Greenfield is, for me, the father of modern fundraising processes. In 1991, Greenfield published Fund Raising: Evaluating and Managing the Fund Development Process which is a must read for anyone entering nonprofit...
An attitude of gratitude
By Amy Phipps There is no way to spread good feeling faster than by sharing a little gratitude. I found this out several years ago, when I was asked to chair a small committee at my church called “Attitude of Gratitude.” I have to admit I thought the name...
Making time for donors…it’s a balancing act
By Covita Moroney, CFRE and Joyce Penland, CFRE With nearly 59 years between us as development officers, we had a conversation recently about what 20/20 hindsight has afforded us as we look at our efforts to connect with donors, board members, and other...
Help! Our nonprofit needs a better Board of directors
By Joyce Penland, CFRE In the leather portfolio I carry with me to work is a small sheet of paper with four words on it. I’m not certain who originally said them, but I often heard them from perhaps the most gifted person I’ve ever seen work with a board of...
Donor trends: Give us your thoughts
By Shelby Atherton and Marion Lee The Giving USA figures are out for 2017 and there is good news! Giving in 2017 rose to more than $410 billion, topping 2016 figures of more than $390 billion. While this appears to be great news, with a 5.2% increase in...
Recruiting and retaining a nonprofit “dream team”
By Alexis De Sela As your organization’s leader, it’s incumbent on you to select the most qualified staff with the right fit based on your organization’s needs and culture to build your nonprofit “dream team.” Consider these steps as you undertake your next...
Summer FUNdraising!
By Priscilla Guajardo Cortez, J.D., M.Ed. Summer is quickly approaching and for many that means FUN! For nonprofit organizations, especially the development staff, it means FUNdraising! During the summer months, nonprofits typically experience a slowdown. ...
Your nonprofit needs a loveable operations plan
By Covita Moroney, CFRE A story… Energized by a fresh, inspiring vision and spot-on strategic goals (carefully crafted at the amazing two-day Board / Staff planning retreat) you hit the office filled with fire-in-the-belly. Determined to bring to life the...
10 elements to success for your next campaign
By Joyce Penland, CFRE You’ve no doubt heard the adage about the frequency of capital campaigns: You’ve just completed one, you’re in the middle of one, or you’re planning the next one. Wherever your organization finds itself, it’s always good to examine...
Nonprofit fraud hurts more than the bottom line
By Marion Lee, CFRE A thief has three characteristics: first a thief is not recognized by you as being a thief; second, he robs you of what you have without your realizing it at the time; and third, a thief leaves you feeling foolish after you have been...
Expressions of gratefulness: It’s not only the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do!
By Karen Kegg My husband and I renewed our wedding vows this summer with family and a few friends attending. For a gift, my sister-in-law gave us a decorative gratefulness jar to remind us how grateful we should be for each other and our family. It’s a...