Leadership & Management Archives

Coaching is More Valuable Than Ever as We Change the Advancement Paradigm

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Core Service, Leadership & Management Posted May 21, 2020 0 Comments

Every serious athlete has a coach. Every successful executive has or has had a coach. Every successful fundraiser has or has had a coach. Why?

Are You Giving In to #GivingTuesday – Redux

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Leadership & Management Posted December 3, 2019 1 Comment

I am reissuing this post, in part, because the donor universe is declining and under pressure with the new tax environment - making this post even more relevant. #GivingTuesday now has seven years under its belt. It seems prudent to review its growth and significance, and to see whether it elevates overall giving or just redistributes anticipated giving.

Workplace Culture: We Can Do Better

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Career & Recruitment, Leadership & Management Posted October 24, 2019 0 Comments

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a panel discussion addressing gender bias, sexual harassment, and bullying in the workplace. This session on “changing culture” was hosted and moderated by Jane Doe Inc. and featured Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung.

A Letter to Nonprofit CEOs About Fundraising

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Leadership & Management Posted August 19, 2019 2 Comments

Dear Nonprofit CEO, I know your plate is full. You manage your board and your staff, have programs to monitor and design, staff vacancies to fill, and there are always fires to put out - and this is the shortlist. It is probably a true statement that your work history that prepared you to lead your organization did not include fundraising responsibilities.

When You Get to a Fork in the Road – Take It

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted July 7, 2019 0 Comments

One of Yogi Berra’s famous utterances – When you get to a fork in the road… take it – has always resonated with me because it characterizes the forced choices we have to regularly make in our advancement work. Whether we like it or not, or whether we know it or not, we are constantly faced with forks in the road that give us options that may make or break our fundraising program, or at least slow its progress.

A New Paradigm is Upon Us – The Donor Pyramid is Narrowing – Happy New Year!

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management, Major Gifts Posted December 26, 2018 4 Comments

It is time for our industry to respond to a changing donor-fundraising paradigm that is rapidly accelerating and can catch many stakeholder nonprofits off guard. While the “donor pyramid” has served us well for decades, where the broad base of the pyramid represents many small dollar donors and the top represents transformational donors, new economic dynamics in the US population necessitate a new look at the pyramid and advancement strategies.

Understanding the Happiness U-Curve Helps Guide Staff and Donor Engagement

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted November 16, 2018 0 Comments

There is a growing body of research that indicates that no matter our economic circumstances or country we live in, that our feeling of happiness (self-satisfaction) is affected by age, and is predictable.

Leading from Behind – A Fine Balance for Success

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted October 1, 2018 1 Comment

Leading from behind: a leader, he said, is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.”

These Days Everyone Needs a “Puppy”, Especially Your Donors

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted August 4, 2018 2 Comments

It has been 18 years since my wife Deborah and I last had a puppy. But we recently decided we wanted another dog… and we needed it as well. I am sure I am not alone having visceral reactions to the headlines of the day. The words “unprecedented”, “unbelievable” and “are you kidding”, just don’t have the same force and significance as they once had not that long ago. It is taking its toll.

Potential Effects of Trump Policies on Fundraising and Nonprofits

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Leadership & Management, Planning & Strategy Posted June 29, 2018 0 Comments

In addition to my post addressing how the new tax law is likely to affect fundraising, in this article I take a high level look at potential effects of some Trump administration policies on fundraising and stakeholder nonprofit organizations. The playing field has changed significantly with the new administration and Republican controlled Congress. This post is rated “M” for mature audiences.

Are You Ready to Accept a Transformational Gift?

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Leadership & Management Posted October 16, 2017 3 Comments

Hard as this may be to imagine, it is not so easy to say yes to accepting a transformational gift, or to respond to a windfall like the Ice Bucket Challenge. Surprising Potential Obstacles You can begin to identify obstacles by asking your CEO, “How would you use a gift of $10 million, $50 million […]

Hate Won’t Wait. Speak Out!

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 […]

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