by Eddie Thompson | May 13, 2026 | Development Management, Professional Development
My workday begins as early as 2 am. By 5, I’ve already completed my highest priority tasks, and by early afternoon, I’m done and on my way to be with my grandkids. I’ve always thrived on four hours of sleep. That’s not a recommendation. Most people need more and...
by Eddie Thompson | Apr 21, 2026 | Development Management, Donor Communications, Professional Development
If the fourth quarter feels like the busiest time for fundraising, it’s time to reassess how you plan your year. By the time many nonprofits get serious about asking for gifts, many of their donors have already made decisions. For most donors, giving isn’t a...
by Eddie Thompson | Mar 10, 2026 | Charitable Estate Planning, Development Management, Professional Development
Trillions of dollars are going to transfer in the coming years. No one knows the exact amount, but we do know this: those assets will go to heirs, to charity, or––with thoughtful planning––to both. For nonprofits, this wealth transfer is more than an unprecedented...
by Eddie Thompson | Feb 9, 2026 | Development Management
Early in my fundraising career, the organization I worked for had an immediate funding need. I sat down with a very successful businessman and asked him for a significant gift, say $100,000, to cover this deficit. I was confident his wealth made the request...
by Eddie Thompson | Mar 25, 2025 | Development Management, Professional Development
Change is an inevitable part of business, but it is not always beneficial to organizational performance, to staff productivity, or the community. While change can prevent companies from becoming obsolete and irrelevant, the shift to a new way of operating often comes...
by Eddie Thompson | Feb 27, 2025 | Development Management, Professional Development
A brief historical survey reveals several narratives about the origin and applications of the term “benchmarking.” Some associate the word with rapid deployment of military forces, with the assembly line for automobiles, or with various management processes. However,...
