The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Bolder Giving are hosting a series of live online discussions with people that they deem to be some of the most interesting philanthropists in the world.  This week featured a discussion with Jill Warren, a middle-class woman who, along with her husband, decided to contribute between 35 and 60 percent of their income to charity.  It’s a commitment they have maintained for the last decade, even after Jill lost her job . You can read the transcript from today’s online discussion here.  Bolder Giving will be hosting what promises to be an fascinating teleconference with Ms. Warren tomorrow at noon Eastern Time.  The call lasts about an hour and allows plenty of time for question and answer.  It’s free!  Click here to register.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Mandi Moshay on July 28, 2010
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Recently, I participated in a board meeting for the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation hosted by the brand new Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor, Washington.  While there, I got a sneak peek inside this amazing new museum which is set to open its doors on September 18^th!  Here is a little preview:

Filed under: Uncategorized by Jim Hopper on July 27, 2010
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The Boston Foundation and the Urban Institute just released a beta version of their new Massachusetts Nonprofit Database, an online tool to help nonprofits build their capacity. I poked around the database a bit and was really impressed with the breadth and depth of info and resources provided. “Shared goods and services” helps groups leverage each other’s excess capacity. “Financial analyzer” is a benchmarking tool to help groups determine how they compare to their peers. Check it out and let us know your thoughts on whether (and how) a resource like this would help you in the Northwest.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Kate Roosevelt on July 23, 2010
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Two weeks ago, an old friend of mine returned from a trip to Africa where she served as part of a medical team, providing much needed attention and care to many families; children in particular. I showed my seven-year-old son the series of quite arresting photos she had taken and he was moved by the plight of these children and asked if we could help them, too. Going online, we gave a donation right then and there to an organization that provides similar international medical services and is based locally. It was a great moment; he was proud he was able to help kids across the world and I was proud of him.

Yesterday, I pulled my mail out of the box and found a solicitation from this organization. Really? I just gave to you two weeks ago and you’re asking again already? If I give again today, will you ask again in two weeks? I was annoyed and the letter went straight into the recycling.

Last night, as I was preparing dinner, I got a call from the advocacy arm (PAC) of a nonprofit I support. I listened to the caller’s spiel patiently while I chopped carrots and radishes even though I had already decided that I would not be supporting the PAC because I was focusing my gift on the nonprofit and couldn’t do both right now. When she finished, I explained why I wouldn’t be giving to the PAC and steeled myself for the inevitable, “But THIS effort is really important, too, and you should support both.” But you know what she said? She said thank you. She said, “Oh, you are? Thank for supporting our organization. We really appreciate your support. You have a nice night now.” I was taken aback. She didn’t push and ask for an additional gift? Yahoo! Thank you, organization, I appreciate you listening to me. Next time, I will consider increasing my gift.

AFP came out with a great story on this topic today. Read it here.

Filed under: Donor Relations, Online giving by Dana Van Nest on July 20, 2010
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Bainbridge Island based IslandWood currently has two positions open in their development department for a Grants Coordinator and a Conferences and Event Coordinator.  They’re also searching for an IT professional.  Click here to view the listings and for more information on how to apply.

Filed under: Job Openings by Mandi Moshay on July 16, 2010
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I recently discovered a book which I think would be great summer reading for anyone looking for tips to energize a nonprofit board. It’s written for employers looking to motivate their staff, but all the tips seem equally, if not more, relevant for motivating volunteer leaders. It’s called “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” For a longer description and info on how to order the book, click here.

Filed under: Reviews by Dedee Wilner-Nugent on July 15, 2010
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According to an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, there have been more eight- and nine-figure gifts given in the first half of 2010 than in 2009. The article states: “At least 20 people have made gifts of $20-million to $35-million in the past six months; in the first part of 2009, only 13 such gifts had been made. The number of gifts of $100-million or more has also grown slightly. So far three such gifts have been made, compared with two in the first six months of 2009.” Read the whole article here.

It’s tempting to add a couple of zeros to your next major solicitation and see what happens, isn’t it?  While we all wish we had prospects with that kind of capacity, it does seem to be a positive indication for overall giving in 2010.

Filed under: Major Gifts, Reviews by Natalie Lamberjack on July 8, 2010
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There are some things that you hear that you never forget. Years ago, while on a tour of a local humane society I heard, “If it weren’t for the cats, we’d be out of business.” Such a comment is obviously provocative, so I inquired further.  It turns out that at the time, dogs were very easy to adopt. Kennels sat empty as adoptable dogs spent very little time at the society until they were on their next adventure. Cats, on the other hand, weren’t so lucky. Cat overpopulation was a major problem. So when I first learned about a project that a friend is working on, I was intrigued. The concept:  let the companion bonding experience begin before people get to the shelter.

The product is currently being tested at the Idaho Humane Society. Website visitors can click on the Kitty Kam link and be connected instantly to a live video feed into the Society’s cat room. But there’s more!  Viewers can download an application that will allow them to take one-minute turns actually controlling the camera and cat toys in the room. From across the globe, a visitor can entertain a kitten in South Boise Idaho – in real time. I’ll challenge even the coldest heart not to giggle at the site of the kittens jumping on the toys.

While the product is still in early development, the concept could solve a big problem – and one which many nonprofit organizations face. Simply, how does an organization give its prospective supporters an experiential moment, if it cannot get those supporters inside its facility?

Give it a try and let us know what you think. The fine print: you’ll need to use Internet Explorer and some firewalls don’t like the site yet. Some users may not have success logging into the program.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Jim Hopper on July 1, 2010
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We here at The Collins Group are big fans of Christopher Davenport’s Movie Monday series – but not this week. In this week’s video, Spokane-based consultant Jeanne Ager explains her style of “mini-feasibility studies.” You can view the video here.

Ager’s approach to a “mini-feasibility study” would indeed be less costly and less time-consuming than a traditional feasibility study. Problem is, it’s not a feasibility study. It’s a glorified focus group. A fun setting, tasty food, and questionnaires are not the hallmarks of a successful feasibility study. What Ager suggests is a good recipe for a cultivation event, but falls far short of yielding the quality of opinions and data you get by employing a distinct methodology which would include an analysis of your organization’s internal readiness for a major campaign, in addition to focus groups and targeted one-on-one interviews. In the “mini” method, you’ve gathered opinions and can write up findings, but you haven’t studied anything.

A campaign feasibility study has two main outcomes: 1) it tests your organization’s preparation for and ability to carry out a significant fundraising campaign and 2) it evaluates the community’s potential leadership and financial investment in your project. No matter where your organization is located or what size it is, a “mini” study won’t get you where you need to be.

The Collins Group knows that well-executed feasibility studies help organizations find the best path forward for fulfilling their missions by strengthening donor and volunteer relationships and by finding creative approaches for meeting community needs. This requires a strong partnership between an organization and its consultants and a rigorous approach to assessment of potential, with solid research supporting every conclusion.

Feasibility studies are not a luxury that just some can afford; for a well-researched and well-run major fundraising campaign, they are a necessity. As many nonprofits will affirm, spending $35,000-55,000 on a professional feasibility study up-front to determine a realistic goal is money well-spent. If you are asking your donors, your board and staff, and your community to invest in your organization and your project, you owe them a thoroughly researched study and a plan to move forward.

Filed under: Campaigns, Reviews by The Collins Group on June 30, 2010
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The results of the new Money for Good report will surprise you. The Money for Good initiative seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the behaviors, attitudes, and motivations of affluent Americans with respect to impact investing, charitable giving, and international entrepreneurship.

Focus groups and an online survey (Hope Consulting conducted the research) tapped the opinions of more than 4,000 individuals, half of whom were from high net worth households. Their methodology, in Hope Consulting’s words, “investigated behaviors, not simply stated preferences” and “forced individuals to make trade-offs to mirror real life decisions and minimize pro-social responses.”  Based on this research, the report develops six different donor segments and provides advice for reaching each one.

The survey’s key findings overturn some conventional wisdom in fundraising:

• Donor demographics, in particular, age and gender, are not reliable predictors of high net worth donors’ actions
• While donors care about the quality and performance of nonprofits, few take the time to research them
• High net worth donors are not behaving differently from other donors

And some less surprising findings:

• Donors, once connected to a nonprofit, are very loyal to it
• Donors feel they are being asked for support too often

The Money for Good project is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Aspen Institute of Development Entrepreneurs, the Metanoia Fund, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Click here to download the full report.

Filed under: Major Gifts, Reviews, Surveys, Trends by Kristin Barsness on June 24, 2010
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