TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Five Lessons Learned on the Fine Art of Asking

by Eddie Thompson | Oct 18, 2021 | Donor Communications, Professional Development

 I’m continuing this month with a few more thoughts about the chosen career of a professional fundraiser—a life of never-ending appeals for donations of time and money for worthy causes. With regard to the fine art of asking, below are some of my favorite “tools of...

THE PHILANTHROPIC APPROACH: What Nonprofits Accomplish that Government Funding Never Can

by Eddie Thompson | Jun 7, 2021 | Development Management, Professional Development

Last month’s article was about donors’ decisions to invest their social capital (contributions to community and society) by means of estate gifts to charity rather than the government in the form of taxes. It’s not that all government-funded programs are hopelessly...

FUNDRAISER FATIGUE: Maintaining Romanticized Optimism About Your Profession

by Eddie Thompson | Dec 28, 2020 | Professional Development

In my many discussions with fundraisers over the last nine months, one of the most frequent comments has been: “We’re so weary of talking about the Covid-19 pandemic and its ongoing impact on charitable giving.” That underlying anxiety (spoken or not) is magnified not...

THE WOODCUTTER’S WISDOM: Reserving Judgment About Nonprofit Futures

by Eddie Thompson | Jun 29, 2020 | Development Management, Professional Development

In my discussion with nonprofit leaders over the last few weeks, there’s a persistent anxiety about the future—and for good reasons. They’re having to deal with staff reductions and furloughs in fund-development departments, the inability to visit donors, and...

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES: How Every Decision Affects Fundraising

by Eddie Thompson | Sep 17, 2018 | Development Management, Professional Development

Everything that happens in a nonprofit organization affects fundraising—everything. Of course, some things have a more direct and immediate impact than others, particularly decisions on programs, budgets, hiring, policy, administration, board recruitment, etc. Many of...

CAREER STRUGGLES: Pursuing Success but Getting Lost in the Process

by Eddie Thompson | Jan 5, 2016 | Development Management, Professional Development

I’ve had the privilege over the years of working with and for the finest group of professionals in any sector of the economy—the Thompson & Associates staff and representatives, our nonprofit clients, and the thousands of nonprofit professionals I’ve met in my...