Philanthropy is a mindset. An embracing culture. A noble value. Fundraising is a means towards that end. Servant to philanthropy. Philanthropy, not fundraising. This has been the tag for my business and blog since I began Clairification in 2011. It grew naturally out of my experiences working as a front development director for 30 years.…| Clairification
It’s been pretty cold in my neck of the woods, so let’s warm up with a cup of cocoa, coffee or tea and some good reads. I’ve got a lot of great stuff for you this week, so let’s get right to it! The Clairity Click-it exists to bring you a range of voices from across…| Clairification
The recent conflation of Inauguration Day and the Martin Luther King Day holiday in the U.S. has me thinking about freedom. And also the push/pull between freedom and responsibility. Freedom without responsibility (i.e., being held responsible for your actions) doesn’t work well for anyone but one person. Responsibility without freedom is stressful. To work well,…| Clairification
Let’s begin with a prayer for our brothers and sisters, and the families and friends, of those facing the Los Angeles firestorm. May they, and all the responders, find protection, shelter, support, hope and strength to start healing and rebuilding. And may the scorched land and devastated communities similarly heal. Should you wish to help,…| Clairification
Let’s begin with this week’s bit of wisdom… Generosity and gratitude A gift doesn’t diminish the giver. Sharing creates connection, possibility and energy. And the magic of gratitude is that it improves everything it touches, especially the person who offered it in the first place. So, what holds us back? Fear. Fear of connection, of…| Clairification
Philanthropy is about reciprocal awe, gratitude, altruism and purpose. I’m a huge fan of the Greater Good Science Center at U.C. Berkeley, and often apply their research to nonprofit fundraising and marketing. This particular article really strikes me today, because it talks about times when we feel isolated from others: How to Find Your Purpose…| Clairification
Throwing shade or throwing light? One takes a little effort than the other. While throwing shade might be fun, it eventually runs out of energy. It’s designed to end conversations, not start them, to intimidate, not encourage. Turning on lights helps everyone. — Seth Godin You are on a meaning-seeking journey. Through your…| Clairification
I’m beginning again, as I often do, with a bit of borrowed insight: The hierarchy of insight It los like this: data information knowledge understanding wisdom Which do we measure the most, spend the most obtaining and argue about most often? We might have it backwards. — Seth Godin Do you glorify data above understanding?…| Clairification
Join 'Clairification School' to Get The Insights You Needto Achieve Your Mission1000+ Articles Are Just a Click AwayStop Settling For Outdated, Obsolete, and “Me-Too” Fundraising & Marketing AdviceYou don’t need me to repeat what you already know. Or parrot what others are telling you. You need me to tell it like I see it – based…| Clairification
I’m a huge fan of the Greater Good Science Center at U.C. Berkeley, and often apply their research to nonprofit fundraising and marketing. A recent article really struck me: How to Find Your Purpose in Life. Over my 30 years of practice as an in-house development professional, the fundamental thing I…| Clairification
As you’re planning ahead, and readying your year-end fundraising initiatives, take a little time to think about your communication ivery mediums. Not to mention your message content. Are you reaching the right audiences, and making it easy for them? Are you sharing messaging that’s relevant to your constituents, and also…| Clairification
Seth Godin once famously said, “The ideas that spread, win.” Hugh MacLeod of the GapingVoid just reframed this as “The ideas that spread are the ones that become social objects.” They enable social interaction. If this brings to mind the recent memeification of the Kamala Harris campaign, or Trump’s red…| Clairification
In the 1967 movie “The Graduate,” some of you may remember the scene where Mr. McGuire takes Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin, off to the side and says “Plastics … there’s a great future in plastics.” Little did we know… While that turned out poorly for the planet, there’s a similar…| Clairification
Get on the Pathway to Passionate Philanthropy, Not Forgettable Fundraising Philanthropy is a mindset. An embracing culture. A noble value. Fundraising is a means towards that end. Servant to philanthropy. Philanthropy, not fundraising. This has been the tag for my business and blog since I began Clairification in 2011. It grew naturally out of…| Clairification
Awareness alone is passive. Do you wish you had a dime for every time a nonprofit board or staff member told you “We’re the best kept secret in town; if people knew what we do, they’d give to support us.” Nonprofits tell me this all the time! If I had all those dimes, I…| Clairification
It costs to acquire a new donor than retain a current one. A lot . In fact, research shows it takes 7 – 12% effort, time and money to bring in a new donor than to raise from a current donor. Please, please, please… let this sink in. The for-profit world understands…| Clairification
Looking for trustworthy nonprofit influencers to follow? Check out these 20 nonprofit influencers to get helpful advice from well-known pros in the space.| NXUnite by Nexus Marketing