_CRI Blog Post Archives

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Leadership & Management Posted August 17, 2017 0 Comments

When is it appropriate for nonprofit leaders to comment on a burning issue? I was discussing a close friend’s disappointment with the statement his synagogue released following the tragic Charlottesville demonstrations, murder, and equivocal statements from our President. The synagogue denounced the Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists and Alt-Right but did not invoke the President’s culpability in […]

The Cute and Adorable Strategy to Motivate Donors, Leaders and Staff to Action

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Leadership & Management Posted July 16, 2017 1 Comment

We all know that it is helpful when you can incorporate kids, furry animals and the like into appeals. After all, giving has a strong emotional component that often accompanies the decision to contribute. The benefits of using this tactic, however, go well beyond appeals. Recent Research Recent research from several sources demonstrates that using […]

When Leadership is Fraught with Cognitive Dissonance

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted June 25, 2017 5 Comments

There is no denying that a major source of frustration for advancement officers is when board and executive leaders proclaim their devotion to the mission, promise to help, and don’t behave accordingly. This cognitive dissonance is the consequence of a person performing an action (or not performing an action) that contradicts personal beliefs, ideals, and […]

All Nonprofits Are Exposed When Federal Funds are Reduced

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted May 26, 2017 1 Comment

Money works in mysterious ways. The cause and effect that often comes with spending money is not always linear. It is easy to overlook what happens when an organization does not receive its annual job training grant. Or when a hospital’s Medicaid or Medicare reimbursement rate is reduced. Or when the subsidy for housing vouchers […]

Getting Aligned with the Missionary Position

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Leadership & Management Posted May 2, 2017 3 Comments

Are you a fundraising Mercenary or Missionary? These two fundamental leadership styles have direct application to the advancement work you do. They are both effective and valuable, but it is important to know which you are, and how it aligns with the responsibilities of your position. Thanks to Fast Company co-founder Bill Taylor’s latest book […]

Interviewing Fundraising Candidates – Getting it Right

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Career & Recruitment, Insights Posted April 10, 2017 4 Comments

We all know the challenge of finding the right candidate to fill our important fundraising vacancies, including the pitfalls of the interview process. The April 9, 2017 NY Times article, “The Utter Uselessness of Job Interviews,” supports beliefs I have had, for many years as a fundraising employer and recruiter, about this process. The research […]

Time to Play Your Federal Budget Trump Card

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Leadership & Management Posted March 19, 2017 2 Comments

It’s time for the nonprofit sector’s stakeholders to exert our considerable influence on the national debate in response to the Trump administration’s chilling budget blueprint. Nonprofit organizations account for 11.4 million jobs, 10.3 percent of all private sector employment, $370 billion in charitable giving and touch the lives of every American. Collectively and individually, stakeholders […]

Fundraising Beyond Rock-Paper-Scissors

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Leadership & Management, Major Gifts Posted February 22, 2017 1 Comment

You may recall how disputes were resolved when we were kids using Rock-Paper-Scissors. This is a zero-sum game to peacefully determine who will prevail when there is conflict and competition. What is great about this method is that each has its power over ONE of the others. Rock prevails over scissors. Scissors prevail over paper. […]

50 Shades of Self-Interest

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted February 5, 2017 4 Comments

The Long-Term Trend That Is Going Unnoticed – UPDATED

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Insights Posted January 12, 2017 0 Comments

My original post dated August 3, 2014 entitled “The Long-Term Trend That Is Going Unnoticed” argued a number of reasons why the overall national donor pool is shrinking. The pillars of the argument addressed the Giving USA analysis showing total giving rose 3.0 percent in 2013 over the 2012 estimate, adjusted for inflation. There was no […]

Why 2017 will be Wicked Awesome

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Insights Posted December 26, 2016 3 Comments

“Wicked awesome” is a uniquely Boston expression. When the Red Sox won the World Series…wicked awesome. When Whitey Bulger was captured…wicked awesome. Before I get into why 2017 will be a wicked awesome year for many nonprofit stakeholder organizations, I want to review some studies that address how people feel and behave after they are […]

Beware of the Feeble Feasibility Study

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Core Service, Planning & Strategy Posted December 11, 2016 3 Comments

Not all feasibility studies are created equal. Over the years I have reviewed feasibility studies done by other consultants so I could prepare a proposal or assume the role of counsel for a prescribed campaign goal. Too often, the studies did not address the issues that are key to campaign success, or were unable to […]

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