Every Tuesday, we’ll post a Fundraising Tip of the Week that will help you remain a philanthropic priority during the economic recovery. Here’s the first one. Now more than ever, your case must articulate needs and successes clearly and concisely. “Give to our annual fund” or “Support our operating budget” do not make for a… Read more »
Community Joins Oasis for Groundbreaking
Despite the cold weather, the community came out in force today to celebrate the groundbreaking of Oasis Social Ministry’s new building. City and business leaders joined in the celebration, including Portsmouth Mayor James Holley, who spoke at the event. The building is coming to life as the result of Oasis’ successful capital campaign, which has… Read more »
How One Couple’s Call Created a Free Clinic
Last week we announced a new blog feature that will showcase the ways a few volunteers have made a huge difference in their community. Here’s our first story. In 1995, Dr. Jim Shaw and his wife, Cooka, chose to answer a persistent call they were feeling to provide health care for the uninsured. First, they… Read more »
2009: A Year of Challenge and Celebration
“20 years of work we love”: That was our anniversary tagline for 2009. And what a crazy year it was. Along with helping clients build capacity, train their boards, and meet campaign goals, we were called on to make an additional 32 presentations at conferences and events from Atlantic City to New Orleans. Between that… Read more »
Fundraising Ethics: Lesson #1
People who haven’t done major fundraising sometimes hold misconceptions about how the process works. We’ve had questions recently about whether we can guarantee fundraising results or bring our own list of potential donors to a new client. The answer to both questions is no, because both are unethical. As a member of the Giving Institute,… Read more »
The Case for Emotion
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job with The Curtis Group is writing case statements for our clients, for two reasons. First, as a writer, it allows me to get lost in a project for a bit, to “zen” on it, as creative folks say. Suddenly the day is over and I don’t even… Read more »
Should All Campaigns Have Goals?
Earlier this week I was called by a reporter for The Anniston Star in Alabama to comment on the lack of a campaign goal for the community’s United Way drive this fall. In the article, Sal Fabens, public relations director for United Way of America, said the organization is moving away from setting campaign goals…. Read more »
