Hint: Don’t do it. — I’m sure there is an official term for this. Desperation fundraising is just my term. It means that a fundraiser is often up against a wall, constantly getting calls or drop-ins from the ED or finance person (or worse yet, board members!) about how much needs to be raised RIGHT…

This is what I did. — I’m not a pro on what to do when you leave the office or meeting room you were called into to get the news that you no longer have a job, but I have experienced it. These days the news could come from an email. I was laid off many…

Try these and see the difference they make. — Fundraising is such an important part of a compassionate, caring, cultural world and I am grateful that I get the opportunity to do it. Before Altrui, I led several fundraising teams. My first was a smaller nonprofit with a fundraising team of three. …

So many questions before I begin this new adventure. — Many here on Medium have been a huge help as I decide whether or not to create a Substack account and begin writing a newsletter. The decision is over; now on to Substack! I’ve had “add a newsletter” to my business plan for two years. Substack seems the place to…

This is especially important when all is going well with your business. This is a topic we all know about, and if you’re like me, one of those ideas that it’s nice to be reminded about every once in a while. Don’t rest on your laurels. This may be a vintage term, and what it means is don’t stop. Don’t stop doing…

Recurring donors will support your fundraising efforts in many ways. — I often hear here nonprofit fundraising leaders mention recurring donors, but usually it’s in passing. A quick “we have that option on our donate page” or something like that. Any amount of time, energy, and resources you put in to growing your recurring donors will come back to your organization…

My Irish great-grandfather left County Mayo for England because he couldn’t find work. He never returned. — There’s much of this story I can’t confirm. And an equal amount that comes from family folklore. I say folklore because they are stories that just keep being told at family gatherings. The setting is County Mayo, Ireland. County Mayo is in the west of Ireland, a world away from…

Intensely grateful to my amazing accountant who makes this annual process super simple. — When creating Altrui, I knew I would need an accountant. I had no idea how important this would be. I’m an “always learning” type of person, definitely the case with creating and growing a consulting firm. Tax season can be difficult for small business owners and solopreneurs. It doesn’t have…

I have changed my mind in regards to lists, and find them super beneficial in keeping me focused and celebratory throughout the week. I know what you may be thinking. You have no time for lists. I used to think the same way. These days, every day begins with a…