Mmm… Making Meetings Meaningful (Again!): 3 Tips
Years ago, after a long day of facilitating meetings, I was having dinner with some of the meeting participants, and after a big sip of wine, I said, “Gosh, but I bet most of you just
Lovely, dark and deep. Thank you for being you.
At the end of what has been a tumultuous year, we're finding joy with the timeless: family, friends, nature, and art. The picture above is by artist Margie Van Auken, and we take it as a reminder
It’s Time! Your Nonprofit Needs a Communications Gatekeeper!
The good news is your nonprofit is growing. Your community is growing, your programs calendar is chock full of opportunities, your fundraising efforts have paid off and you have new initiatives to carry out. It’s all
The Great Grant Hustle
The Great Grant Hustle is the name I’ve given the first quarter of 2016. It encapsulates my belief that the first quarter is a time to submit as many strong grant applications as possible. Here are
Always Eat Green Worms & Other Tips for Nonprofit Communication (From My Kids)
Last week was my first week at work after spending a couple weeks with my two boys, both under age four. I was looking forward to interacting with adults again. But, my kids informed my writing
Dear Nonprofit Leader, I Have a Present for You,
This is the view from my desk as I started writing this: grey, rainy, visibly chilly, a tree barren of its leaves, and across the distance, a tiny, barely visible glimmer of red and yellow light. Some
#GivingTuesday – A Flurry Of Asks…
I got at least 20 requests for support on #GivingTuesday last week. How many did you get? Maybe we can make it a competition! Regardless of the saturation of requests we all receive on this now annual
“I Knew You Were Going To Say That” A Few Helpful Tips From MarkCon 2015
Last month, I attended MarkCon for a client of TakeTwo to gain some helpful hints about using media, messaging, and marketing to help further the nonprofits critical work. An event full of experts sharing their incredible
Our New Video And How We Made It
In July, Stephanie and I had exactly half-a-day together when we both were free to “take off” from work, and how did we choose to spend it? By filming our new video, of course! Can you
What Nobody Tells Nonprofits About Making Videos: Part 2, Emotionality
What makes your video a powerful fundraising tool? Strong visuals, compelling stories, and professional graphics are great. But one thing that’s often overlooked is: emotionality. That is, make your viewers get the “feels,” make their hearts