By Jaron Bernstein, MBA, Consultant
Consultant Jaron Bernstein breaks down what you gain by investing in the strategic planning process and what dangers are in store if you don’t. All with the help of the cast of the hit TV show Schitt’s Creek.
Continue reading “4 Reasons Why You Need Strategic Planning Before Launching a Campaign”
By Alexis Cooke, Greg Whitney, Jaron Bernstein, Lieve Hendren, Mariah Hickey and Shay Upadhyay
The world is changing rapidly and it can be a challenge to stay informed and strategize around frequent shifts. We asked our consultants to tell us what they believe are the most pressing trends in philanthropy to keep on the radar and to share their advice on how to stay ahead of the curve.
Continue reading “6 Trends to Watch in Philanthropy and Fundraising in 2023”
By Mary Hackett, Vice President
Fundraisers often don’t believe that they can have a significant impact on their organization’s journey toward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Here’s the truth: development professionals play a critical role! You have a unique superpower that can play the role of disruptor: your donor data.
Online Webinar
More and more, donors are giving through crypto giving. This dialogue presents the opportunity to engage this growing segment of philanthropists. This webinar will lead you through what it is, why it’s important and how to use it. Hear from a panel of experts who will share their stories of working with donors to support the causes they care about through this source of giving.
Slide Deck: Crypto Giving Webinar Presentation
Resources:
Crypto Fundraising 101: Start here to learn about crypto and how your nonprofit can start accepting cryptocurrency donations. This guide includes how crypto works, crypto user demographics, key factors for nonprofits to consider and tips for establishing a successful nonprofit crypto fundraising strategy.
How to Launch a Successful Crypto Fundraising Campaign: Check out this guide to learn how your nonprofit can begin diversifying its fundraising strategy and connect with a new generation of young donors.
Getting to Know Cryptocurrency Donors: Discover the traits, values and motivations of the next generation of philanthropists in this detailed report.
Everyone’s Talking About Crypto, But What Is it? Here’s Your Non-Techie Guide: This is a quick-read article about the basics of cryptocurrency.
The Giving Blog: Looking for more resources for crypto fundraising? Take a look at The Giving Block’s blog with topics such as crypto 101, end-of-year fundraising strategies, NFTs and more.
Speakers
Sharon Tiknis, Alford Group
Andi Anderson, PAWS Chicago
Alex Cesario, Breakthrough Urban Ministries
Karl Simpson, The Giving Block
Online Webinar
Do you want to take your internal operations to the next level – and raise more money? Especially with year-end giving upon us, the answer for most development professionals is “Yes!” This session will walk you through year-end campaign best practices and highlight how you can improve your internal operations to accelerate fundraising this year and beyond. Learn how to strengthen systems, save time and money, and ultimately raise more dollars to have a greater impact on the communities you serve.
Slide Deck: Year-End Giving Webinar- Presentation
By Mary Hackett, Vice President
It’s that time of the year again. The leaves are changing colors, the aroma of pumpkin spice is in the air and year-end giving is once again upon us.
Continue reading “Fundraising Operations: Take Your Organization to the Next Level”
By Araceli Duran, Business Development Associate
Alford Group hosted a webinar that looked at some of the key findings from the new Giving USA report and invited expert panelists to discuss the current state of giving in the country. Continue reading “Giving USA: What Lies Ahead for Philanthropy in America”
Webinar | June 29, 2022
Description
The events of 2020-2021 have forever changed the nonprofit community and philanthropy. While they have been unprecedented on so many fronts, the generosity of the American people has been at an all-time high. Throughout these challenging times, the most successful organizations have transformed their programs, operations, how they engage donors and how they advance equity-centered philanthropy. This session will cover fundraising resiliency, insights regarding the future of fundraising, and new ways to approach creating generosity in more inclusive ways.
Take in the Giving USA research, learn about trends among donors both high-net worth and the general public, and hear from an expert panel on what they see lies ahead for philanthropy in America. Join us for this hands-on practical webinar and take new ideas back to your organization to achieve even greater fundraising results.
Moderator: Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, Alford Group
Giving USA Presenter: Karen Rotko-Wynn, CFRE, Chief Business Enterprise Officer, Alford Group
Expert Panel:
Materials:
#1 Slide Deck: Giving_USA_Presentation_Deck_June_29_Release
#2 Written Summary of Webinar: Found here
Giving USA Report Details
First published in 1956, Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy is the longest running, most comprehensive report on philanthropy in the United States. It is researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Alford Group is a longtime supporter of Giving USA and member of The Giving Institute.
Groundbreaking ceremony for construction and renovations to begin May 2022
LifeWire is a Washington-based nonprofit that provides compassionate services, safe housing and hope to domestic violence (DV) survivors, children and families in need. LifeWire is the largest DV housing provider in King County, providing emergency and relocation services for survivors and their children who would otherwise have to remain in an abusive home or become homeless. They are recognized nationally as a leader in providing innovative, survivor-driven, trauma-informed care. Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children in the nation. Continue reading “Client Spotlight: LifeWire”
By Mariah Fosnight, CFRE, Consultant and Doug Wallack, Client Service Associate
For over 40 years, Alford Group has tested the effectiveness of written material with a variety of stakeholders (donors, volunteers, partners, community leaders, foundation and corporate funders, etc.) for nonprofit organizations ranging in size, sector, lifecycle stage and geography.
Continue reading “Effective Storytelling: 4 Tips to Best Engage Your Audience”
By Mary Hackett, Vice President
Your fundraising reports should be purposeful and engage your audiences. The right reports can drive better fundraising results and deploy different audiences to act in different ways. Continue reading “Fundraising Data: 3 Secrets to Strong Reporting”
Virtual Workshop | Online | January 21, 2022 | 12:00-1:15 p.m. CST
Building Resiliency, Recalibrating Mission, and Deepening Impact
As nonprofit organizations continue to adapt to the profound effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, strategic planning, collaborative relationships with board members, and a strong path forward is essential. Our panel of esteemed CEOs described their leadership journeys, shared how they have navigated their organizations to solid ground during the pandemic, and reflected on what is ahead for our sector. Attendees came away from this program understanding leadership principles that leverage change to advance mission and empowered to contribute to an organizational culture that overcomes challenges and articulates a clear, bold vision for the future.
Moderator:
Brenda B. Asare, President & CEO, Alford Group
Panelists:
Greg Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Joffrey Ballet
Jamal Malone, Chief Executive Officer, Ada S. McKinley Community Services
Bela Moté, Chief Executive Officer, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning