Rebecca Bowen

In the ever-shifting world of fundraising, donor-advised funds (DAFs) have become an important tool for donors to manage their giving, offering a flexible and tax-optimized way for individuals to support a range of nonprofit organizations. As nonprofit fundraisers, we’ve got to engage DAF donors and connect with them in ways that work best. Drawing insights from a recent article by Lisa Schohl in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, "9 Ways to Raise More From Donor-Advised Funds," I’ve shared some tips to optimize DAF contributions and cultivate these donor relationships in this recent blog post. https://lnkd.in/dyuxdJGE

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Have you checked out the new GMS Guide? PEAK Grantmaking, Tech Impact, Technology Association of Grantmakers and Grantbook have produced a guide to help philanthropic staff select a grantmaking platform. It’s interactive, intuitive and full of knowledge from the experts. “We know how deeply you care for your #grantees, and how badly you need your #technology, systems, and processes to support and enhance your ability to positively #impact their lives. The goal of this resource has always been to empower grants management professionals to make the most informed choice they can when it comes to their tech solutions.” The grantmaking function is the backbone of a philanthropic organization. 💥The technology must meet the need. Efficiently. Effectively. And drive impact. 💥 You needed implementation partners and #vendors you trust 🌈. You need to build linguistic bridges between process and technology. This is not easy work. And grants managers are ready to take on this #data #migration challenge (regularly and, perhaps with greater frequency as #ai has arrived). It’s a beach read 🏝️☀️🌊 https://lnkd.in/e6c86vZn

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The Far Side of Fundraising Tip of the Week Clever words - be they in the form of a case for support, an appeal or a solicitation - cannot make up for a poorly conceived fundraising initiative. Like it or not, philanthropy is a marketplace. Some things have strong donor appeal, some very little. Strategic fundraising entails putting forward concepts that advance mission and resonate with philanthropic values. It is foolish to believe that donors will respond to whatever you want or need if you have charismatic fundraisers making compelling appeals. It's even more foolish to attempt to do so when you give fundraisers the wrong vehicle and less than clever words.

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4 Components of a Culture of Philanthropy "Development staff are always included in organizational decisions. Program staff play an active role in relationship building. Fundraising and engagement are inextricably linked. Transformational relationships take priority over transactions." More insights and explications of these points can be found in this important article by Claire.

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In a recent meeting with a client about strategies to engage major donors, they said "we don't have time to build relationships with funders!" I've heard similar responses over the years as a consultant, but for some reason this time it really hit me: this key aspect of development (especially major gift fundraising) is precisely the thing nonprofit leaders often just don't have time to do. In the frenzy and everything-is-a-priority aspect of our work, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we don't have time to nurture and build key relationships. But, given how important this activity is to the sustainability and success of your organization, finding time -- or maybe making the time -- is critical. I share more on how to make this time and to best use the little time you have in my April blog post on cultivating and forging strong ties with donors. https://lnkd.in/gqUrPcuU

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When thinking back to my time as a nonprofit CEO, I recall many sleepless nights wrestling with funding challenges. Conversations often focused on writing grants, annual campaigns, and donor engagement, but the results stayed the same. It wasn’t until we started thinking differently that we saw real change. 🚀Imagine a nonprofit and philanthropic world where innovation drives fund development, creating sustainable impact within our organizations, where new ideas are celebrated, and risks are seen as opportunities.  🌟 In my latest Coaching Innovation Blog, Innovating Fund Development for Greater Impact, discover how embracing innovation can transform your organization's approach to funding. ❓How can nonprofits elevate their fund development strategies to create greater impact? 🧠 Cultivate a Culture of Innovation: Encourage an environment where creativity thrives, and risks are part of the growth journey. 🔍 How can you foster a culture of innovation? Reflect on your organization's openness to new ideas and discuss your risk tolerance and risk threshold. 💡 Innovation Pop-ups: Organize regular brainstorming sessions to bring together diverse perspectives and generate innovative new fund development strategies. When we create a culture of innovation that leverages technology and embraces diverse funding sources, we can transform our organizations and the communities we serve. How have you leveraged innovation to support fund development? 🔗 Check out the full article at www.Jordansydnor.com . 

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If you are a philanthropic consultant or donor advisor, please take a few minutes to complete this benchmark survey! 2024 Philanthropy Benchmark Survey - Insights on the role of Consultants & Advisors in Advancing Giving

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🔔 New Episode 🔔 from Becoming the Vision featuring Rickke Mananzala, President of the New York Foundation. Tune in to learn how remembering who we are, where we come from, and why we do this work can make us better philanthropy professionals and humans. Listen and subscribe: https://lnkd.in/eHAPfP6C #BTVPodcast #Philanthropy #FreedomDreaming

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Whether thinking about your next role or your next hiring process, this promises to be an informative and impactful session!

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Do all capital campaigns need a fundraising consultant? Read on to learn about different types of fundraising counsel and how they can benefit your organization! #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitcapitalcampaign #capitalcampaign #capitalcampaignconsultant

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RKD's Giving Pulse Field Guide is a must-read for anyone involved in fundraising! 📈📚 Whether you're navigating the complexities of donor engagement or looking for data-driven strategies to boost your campaigns, this guide offers invaluable insights and practical advice. #Nonprofit #Fundraising #DonorEngagement #RKDGroup https://lnkd.in/gNDEhzXb

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Unlock the power of predictive modeling to elevate your major gift fundraising! CCS Fundraising's latest article dives into how these advanced tools can help nonprofits optimize their donor portfolios, ensuring your team focuses on the most promising prospects. Discover strategies for enhancing portfolio quality and performance, and make data-driven decisions that maximize your fundraising potential. Read more and transform your approach to major gifts! https://bit.ly/3RrfqOa #Fundraising #Nonprofit #PredictiveModeling #MajorGifts

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As a burnt-out, burning out, soon to burn out 🤼 social sector employee, I cannot understate the #value of this conversation and the deep #research that accompanies the call for #philanthropy to help (#ai is adding to the #overwhelm as the #technology #data #tsunami approaches). 👯 Human-centered must be more than a buzz word. ⚔ Listen to the webinar, read the report: what you can do to support #nonprofit #grantee staff? Topic 🤺 : Nonprofits are crucial in the U.S., offering essential services and tackling tough social issues. During the COVID-19 #pandemic, they played a significant role despite facing many challenges. Four years later, how are these nonprofits doing? What struggles do they still face? How are funders addressing the well-being of these workers?

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💡 If you work with non-profits, then it’s no secret that it's getting harder and harder for them to reach their fundraising objectives. As a foundation or fonds de dotation (French endowment fund) a simple way help is to provide multi-year funding.   👇This article from KV Philanthropy Consulting offers a few insights as multi-year vs one-off donations and what impacts they can have for both associations and foundations. Don’t hesitate to let me know what you think! (Vous trouvez également la version française via le lien ci-dessous) #Donation #Multiyear #foundation #fondsdedotation #nonprofit #charity #association #grantmaking #fundraising #philanthropy

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Dear friends and colleagues, I wanted to share my new book, in which I explore the challenges, dilemmas, and opportunities that Jewish Communities face in the 21st century. How are patterns of belonging changing? How can communities (Jewish and others) thrive in a time of hyper-empowered individuals? How can we sustain community in a time of epistemic upheaval? How can religious and cultural traditions provide meaning in a post-ideological world? In this book, I try to explore "how we got here", how the modern individual became what she is today, and then I offer some thoughts on how community leaders can operate in this brave new world. While this analyzes the Jewish Community, it's valuable for every religious, ethnic, and cultural group, as we're all in the same proverbial boat. Enjoy, and please, let me know your thoughts!

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What does it take to ensure that community engagement isn't transactional, reduced to a buzzword or checkbox, in building partnerships between healthcare and people with lived experience? Our Power session with the team from INSPIRE is up on the website, you can learn from their research process, best practices, and action recommendations what it looks like to make community engagement more authentic and transformational.

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