Happy Groundhog Day! It’s become my Groundhog Day tradition to repost my 2008 post: Fundraising Secret #11: Don’t Be A Ned. Enjoy! (And don’t be a Ned!)

Does this sound like your fundraising efforts?

Ned: Phil? Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you!

Phil: Hi, thanks for watching. [Starts to walk away]

Ned: Hey now, don’t you tell me you don’t remember me ’cause I sure as heckfire remember you.

Phil: Not a chance.

Ned: Ned… Ryerson. “Needlenose Ned”? “Ned the Head”? C’mon, buddy. Case Western High. I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing. Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn’t graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? Well?

Phil: Ned Ryerson?

Ned: BING!

Phil: Bing.

Ned: Do you have life insurance, Phil? Because if you do, you could always use a little more, I mean, who couldn’t? But let me tell something – I got’s a feeling [whistles] you ain’t got any. Am I right or am I right or am I right? Right, right right.

I crack up every time I see this scene!

Phil is so completely self-absorbed and utterly uninterested in Ned, let alone what Ned’s selling. And Ned’s so completely absorbed with selling insurance, he’s not reading Phil’s very clear signs of indifference.

Please, don’t be a Ned.

Our donors have had it “up to here” with marketing and sales and promises from people that don’t care about them.

Learn to care.

Our donors, like us, are real people with real concerns about real lives. And your nonprofit isn’t at the center of their real lives. Nor should it be.

It’s our job to help get our organization on their radar screen. But rather than going after anyone that can fog a mirror, it’s more helpful for your fundraising efforts to figure out what type of person already gives to you.

• Men or women?
• WWII generation? Silent Generation? Boomer? Xer? Millenial?
• What draws them to your mission?
• How are they first introduced to your organization?

I’d venture to guess it’s not by accosting them on the street in the middle of a cold February day. (Or on the phone. Or in the mail.)

So as you start this new year, commit to taking the time to do the hard research to get to know your current donors. And commit to engaging with donors and donor prospects to get to know them, and to let them get to know you, before you ask.

And whatever you do, please, don’t be a Ned!

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. A Salute to Ground Hog Day
2. How are the 100 Days?
3. Fundraising Secret #11: Don’t be a Ned

I’m thrilled to be hosting the Nonprofit Blog Carnival for February!

Since Valentines’ Day is this month, the Carnival topic is: As a fundraiser, how do you take care of yourself?

I believe fundraising is the best profession in the world! But it can be incredibly stressful, grueling, and thankless.

We often focus on letting donors know we love them, but how do you show yourself the love?

Nonprofit blog readers

If you’re a blog reader, sit tight. I’ll post a round up of the best of the blogs right here on FundraisingCoach.com at the end of February.

Nonprofit bloggers

If you’re a blogger, here’s how to be part of the carnival (even if only as a clown!)

• Write a post if ideas of how you take care of yourself. How do you as a fundraiser reenergize? Give yourself a pat on the back? Recover from the “no”? Feed your creativity? Stay inspired?

  There isn’t a right or wrong type of post. Yours may be funny, serious, or even emotional.

• Email your permalink to nonprofitcarnival@gmail.com or fill out this handy form by Monday 2/27.
• I’ll sift through all the submissions and, with the help of my team, will choose the ones that best fit the topic. Posts well written and relatively recent (within the last couple months) are best.
• Check back here on February 2/29 to see if your post made it. And to get great ideas on how to keep yourself motivated for the long haul!

Let the carnival begin!

I look forward to your creativity!!

To get an idea of how the posts will be collected at the end of the month, check out January’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival. These are posts relating to “dreams” (since we observed MLK Day here in the States!).

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants
2. Part of the Carnival
3. November Giving Carnival

The first month of the year is gone! Now is a great time to review your goals. (I have blogged about goal setting here.)

As you review your goals, you may find your behind on some. Creating a road map will help jump start those goals.

To create a goals road map follow this simple 5-step process:

1. Write out your goal

   What is it you want to accomplish? Make sure the goal is worded so that it is:

   • Specific
   • Measurable
   • Action oriented
   • Results oriented
   • Time sensitive

   Remember, a goal without a deadline is only a fantasy!

2. List out what steps have to happen

   Take the time to list out everything that needs to happen in order to accomplish the goal. Add a date by when each step needs to happen so you can reach your goal on time.

3. List out everyone who can help with each step

   After each step, list out the strategic alliances, people, and resources that can help make it happen. Do you need a department directors help in getting a step done? List her name. Is there an association or committee that can help with the next step? Write it down. Will a class or book help? Write that down too.

4. Brainstorm obstacles that might occur

   What could stand in your way of accomplishing your goal? Right down as many obstacles as you can think of.

   I used to think this was a bad idea. Why use imagination so negatively?

   But now I see this is realistic. Obstacles always happen when someone attempts a goal worth pursuing. Listing them out neutralizes them, helping us keep up our momentum. So get them on paper. And list out the people that can help you overcome them.

5. Write the name of your coach or accountability person

   Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy when we’re trying something of value. Having a person outside of our organization who’ll hold us accountable for our goals is invaluable. We are less likely to make excuses to them than we are to make them to ourselves.

This process works as well for accomplishing professional goals as it does for creating solicitation strategies for top major gift prospects!

Following these steps will help make sure you can cross out your goals as “achieved”!

To get the free MagnetGoals ecourse, or to purchase the workbook, go to: http://fundraisingcoach.com/magnet-goals/

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Writing goals and focusing your subconscious
2. Creating Donor Evangelists: Create Community
3. Creating Donor Evangelists: Create a Cause

I’m thrilled to be participating in the Nonprofit Goodies Giveaway!

10 of us have gotten together to offer:

• 5 free ebooks including the Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising and my own Ask Without Fear!,
• 2 free workbooks,
• 2 free trainings, and
• one free Donor Map.

On the Nonprofit Goodies Giveaway site there are tools to help with your major gifts, annual fund, grant fundraising, storytelling and presentations. There’s even a training to help you with your benefit auctions.

But hurry these goodies are only available until January 31!
To get your year started with these great tools, simply go to: http://nonprofitgoodies.com/

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Tools to Help Your Nonprofit Marketing & Fundraising
2. Free AMA Nonprofit Marketing Conference 2011 registration contest
3. Free seminar and win a free coaching session!

[Warning: Rant in progress]
In my book Ask Without Fear!, I encourage fundraisers to PYITS–put yourself in their shoes. Thinking like the donor or prospect can save you lots of embarrassment in the process of asking for money.

But never forget: you are not your perfect donor

Your major gift donor prospects are not on the same life trajectory as you. They have different life goals, work patterns, and values. This is good. This is why they are in a financial place for you to be talking to them.

So listen to what they want.

Based on my trainings around the world, 70-75% of the people reading this blog are outgoing, gregarious extraverts who love to be recognized. Don’t assume your donor wants their name up in lights. They may simply want a note of thanks from the CEO. Or maybe a quiet coffee with her.

On the other hand, if you tend to be more introverted and detail oriented, remember that your donor may indeed want to have his name listed as prominently as possible. Or to be recognized at a big gala.

Today, take off your ear muffs

Even if you could never conceive of anyone really wanting “that” [splashy recognition, quiet recognition, whatever], listen to what the donor wants.

As you go through your day today, take off your ear muffs to listen. It might even help to stop at the donors office door and pantomime taking off ear muffs.

You’ll be able to raise alot more money when you remember that you really aren’t your perfect donor.
[The rant is now over]

How do you stop assuming you know and really listen? Tell us in the comments!

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Perfect opportunity for a corporate ask?
2. Rant in progress: You’re going to have to ask!
3. Fundraising Secret #16: ALWAYS be interested in the donor as a PERSON

In the United States we’re honoring the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I’m sure many people will be posting about the “I have a dream” speech. I get so inspired reading his speech.

We in the nonprofit world sure know about dreams! We see the world both as it is and as it can be. So much of our job is telling people that story.

But MLK’s life wasn’t just telling stories. He did the work. He marched. He went to jail. He put himself in harms way.

While I hope we get inspired about dreams and a free and equal world, I really hope we all get inspired to do action.

Tough action.

What kind of tough action are you willing to take this year to make the world better?

Let us know in the comments what you’ll do. I hope you’ll consider asking more!

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. The three very serious diseases for nonprofit marketers to avoid like the plague
2. What Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Peas taught me about nonprofit fundraising
3. Fundraising Training and Nonprofit Leadership Seminars

I often have people tell me about job openings. But now I get to share one!

I’m working on a capital campaign in Lebanon, NH at the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital. And APD is looking to hire a campaign assistant. The position is part-time and Raisers Edge experience is a plus.

You can read all the details here: Campaign Assistant-Philanthrophy & Community Relations Department

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Job Opening – D.C.
2. Postion Opening
3. Job Opening: Director of Communications

Whether you love or hate New Year Resolutions, millions of people use January 1 to start new habits.

As a result, I’ve been asked by several bloggers and magazines what New Year resolution I would suggest people make. My answer for nonprofit folks? Ask more.

If you could do only one thing this year

As I’ve worked with nonprofits over the last year or two, I’ve noticed a tendency to do everything but ask. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in developing donors and engaging prospects and thanking supporters. I think it’s good to learn how to tell their story effectively. These are all great and they’re vital for a robust development effort.

But you don’t have a development effort if you don’t ask for money.

As a fundraiser, not asking for money is tantamount to malpractice.

Your job is to raise money.

• “Getting word out” about your nonprofit is nice, but it isn’t enough.
• Sitting back hoping the letters you sent inspires people to give isn’t enough.

You need to ask people to take the specific action of giving money.

You need to ask them. Get on the phone. Set up solicitation appointments. You can even use fundraising events, provided you make an ask!

Get passionate about asking

I’m passionate about asking. I’ve written alot about asking on this blog. Check out http://fundraisingcoach.com/category/asking/

I even started FundraisingKick to help give people the kick they needed to get out the door!

I’m convinced that as you get some more positive asks under your belt, as you see donor’s eyes light up with excitement about being able to invest in your cause, you’ll get addicted to asking!

Whether you believe you’ll ever get addicted to asking or not, this year commit to getting better at asking! The people you serve will reap the reward of your effort!

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. 3 New (fiscal) Year Resolutions
2. Year-end fundraising through the mail
3. Start your year-end fundraising letter strategy today!

Did you watch CNN this morning? It reported Paul Allen’s stats that Google+ growth is exceeding expectations. According to him, Google is now over 62 million users and adding about 625,000 new users every day.

His prediction? Google+ will have over 400 million users by the end of 2012.

400 million users in a year in a half.

Don’t ditch Facebook

Granted, there is a difference between “users” and “active users.” Facebook reports 800 million active users–people who actually use Facebook. And it reports that half of them log in to Facebook every day.

Facebook currently has more active users each day than the projected total users Google+ will have by the end of 2012. So you definitely want to get good at using Facebook. I recommend checking out John Haydon to get really good at using Facebook.

But explore Google+ in 2012

But even with Facebook’s success, when asked a question they can’t answer, people don’t say they’ll “Facebook” it. They still say they’ll “Google” it. And herein lies the secret to Google’s success.

CNN reports that Google has more monthly visitors than Facebook. And Google is advertising Google+ prominently, especially with the omnipresent black bar on many of its products.

The people will try out Google+. And as Google opens up it’s API, more developers will be able to create applications that interface with Google+. (Think Causes in Facebook. Or, unfortunately, Farmville.) These new applications will help “users” become “active users.”

Add to that all the changes Google is making to accomodate Google+ in all its other products, including and especially its search results, it’s important to your nonprofit or business to get familiar with Google+ now. It’s still an early adopter phase which means people are more forgiving when a company or nonprofit makes mistakes.

You don’t want to end 2012 wishing you’d checked out Google+ a year ago.

Some tools to help you get started

I’ve written a lot about Google+ and why I think it’s great for nonprofits. All the posts are available here: Google+ for Nonprofits on FundraisingCoach.com. Here are some of those articles:

• Getting Started on Google+ for Nonprofits

• Google+ for Nonprofits seminar at BlogWorld (this is more of a seminar)
• How to hold a Google+ Hangout and why you should

Here are some quick videos on YouTube about aspects of Google+:

• How to Start a Google+ Hangout (3 minutes)

• Google+ profile picture trick (39 seconds)
• A quick way to find interesting people on Google+ (1 minute 10 seconds)
• How to set up multiple administrators for your Google+ page (43 seconds)

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. 3 New (fiscal) Year Resolutions
2. Google+ Circles in Gmail
3. Google+ is open to nonprofits

Nonprofits, businesses, and geeks alike were thrilled when Google+ finally rolled out business pages back in November 2011. But one of the huge limitations of pages were the limit of only one admin per page. Any time a business or nonprofit wanted to post something, it had to go through the person who first created the page.

Talk about a communications bottleneck!

Bottleneck no more

Fortunately, Google has broken that bottleneck in the last few days. Now it’s incredibly simple to add more admins to your page. I think the process is even easier than Facebook.

Here is a 40-second video I created to show you how:

In case you wanted a cheat sheet, here is a 1-2-3 image that also shows you how to add multiple admins for your Google+ page:

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. So you have a Google+ page for your nonprofit, now what?
2. Facebook “Ask Without Fear!” fan page
3. Google+ is open to nonprofits