Nonprofit Fixer™ Blog

The Nonprofit Fixer Blog offers immediately useful tools and insights to fix your nonprofit.

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fundraising, media skills Sean Kosofsky fundraising, media skills Sean Kosofsky

Infographic: Nonprofit Storytelling for Pros

We only have the attention of others for a moment. How do we get our message out in the time it takes individuals to “swipe right” or between the mailbox and the garbage can? We must learn how to break through. Luckily, there is evidence of a tactic that works: storytelling. Stories are powerful. We remember them more than facts, statistics, or websites. Nonprofits should be better storytellers.

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boards, leadership Sean Kosofsky boards, leadership Sean Kosofsky

Executive Session is Toxic. Let’s End It!

It goes by lots of different names, but an executive session is the time during a non-profit board meeting when the board excuses the Executive Director (ED) and staff so they can talk among themselves. I don’t know who created this practice or why it is allowed to continue. It is universally despised by executive directors, and many board members privately admit that it feels a little bit icky. Yet through inertia, it persists.

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media skills Sean Kosofsky media skills Sean Kosofsky

It's a Trap: Handling Tough Media Questions

All people could benefit from media training, but nonprofit leaders should make it a priority because getting covered accurately in the media is essential to growing your organization. Two essential things I learned early on have stuck with me. First, even though a reporter may be interviewing you, you are not talking to them. You are talking to their readers, viewers or listeners. When you know this, you will be far more effective at getting results. Second, don't answer the question asked of you. Respond with what you want to say.

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capacity, leadership Sean Kosofsky capacity, leadership Sean Kosofsky

What the Heck does "Capacity" Mean for Nonprofits?

The word “capacity” is nebulous for many people. It’s like saying “organizational infrastructure” or “intersectionality.” It can seem like jargon; it may be hard to define but you kinda think you’d know it when you see it…maybe. For folks newer to these terms, or afraid to raise their hand to ask, “what exactly do you mean by ‘capacity’” here’s a list!

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fundraising Sean Kosofsky fundraising Sean Kosofsky

When You Ask for Money, You're Doing the Donor a Favor

It is very common for people to cringe when asked to raise money from others. The act of asking for money brings up discomfort and anxiety. There are two big reasons for this: 1) the asker doesn’t want to impose a burden, and 2) the asker thinks they are asking for a favor. This is rubbish and we need to eliminate this way of thinking.

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fundraising Sean Kosofsky fundraising Sean Kosofsky

Never Take "NO" for a (first) Answer in Fundraising

What I mean by this, is that things may not appear as they seem. Let's say you are prospecting a foundation you have never heard of before and the funding guidelines on the website clearly state the three things they fund your issue or project is not one of those. So do you close the tab and never think of that foundation again? Or you get creative?

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capacity, fundraising Sean Kosofsky capacity, fundraising Sean Kosofsky

Size Does Matter: For Charities, Staying Small Works

One of the biggest mistakes I made as a first-time executive director (ED) was getting too cocky. I knew I was a strong fundraiser and I was on a very good streak in my first 5 months on the job. I took over after a multi-month gap with no executive director and the organization was losing money. It was also in debt and then the national economy collapsed around me. This was August of 2008.

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Disclaimer: Thanks for visiting! My blog is a resource guide for educational and informational purposes. To write my articles, I use my experiences, the experiences of others, and various other resources, including but not limited to the internet and other sources. That said, my advice doesn’t come with any guarantees. By visiting this site, you’re essentially signing a contract that says that you understand that I make no guarantees and that you won’t try to sue me because that would suck.