Navigating Public-Private Partnerships
The HBO series The Gilded Age is an interesting study contrasting old New York City with the new money arrivals in the late 1880s. Wealth abounds, there are philanthropic causes to support, yet envy and social standing prohibit the combination of these wealth sources for the common good. Like this dynamic, one of the challenges around economic […]
A Fundraising Lesson from Wall Street
I received a brochure in the mail recently about a company offering alternative investments. I get a lot of these, probably because my Chartered Financial Analyst designation puts me on the mailing list of many investment houses, hedge funds, asset managers, etc. This one caught my eye because of its direct approach: “What’s the path […]
The Importance of Outcomes in Today’s Fundraising
As we watch the national economy–and each of our own communities–grapple with the pandemic, nonprofits cannot lose sight of the element most crucial to their sustainability and even survival: Investable OutcomesTM. In our Emerge Ready: Fundraising During and After COVID-19 webinar, we shared the results of a survey of nonprofit leaders. Our research showed that […]
Lessons for Economic Developers from the COVID-19 Crisis
What makes an economic development organization more or less effective in times of crisis? Reflecting on her education in natural disaster mitigation and management, Christa Franzi from Camoin 310 talked to the Economic Development Council of Maine (EDCM) about the things that economic developers are being called to do as the COVID-19 crisis continues, and lessons […]
A Feasibility Study: The First Step to Fundraising in Uncertain Times
I recently spoke on our podcast with four members of our Convergent team about their experiences during the Great Recession of 2008-2010. Senior Project Director Doug Croft was running the Thomasville Chamber in North Carolina and Senior Project Director Dennis Hinkle led the Greater Burlington Partnership in Iowa at that time. Both were involved in capital campaigns for their […]
Should You Hire a Fundraising Consultant?
Four Things to Consider as You Decide Fundraising today is more important than ever as we get ready to hit the “play” button for a nation and so many nonprofits that have been “on pause”.” Nonprofit leadership teams and Boards have varying degrees of talent, knowledge, and skill, so there isn’t always a need to […]