Daniel Wiseman, CFRE

Read about Business Retention and Expansion, REDS and more...

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: HOW A CASE FOR SUPPORT DEVELOPS Most people consider The Case for Support the main ‘sales piece,’ the colorful, expensively printed brochure that is part of a typical capital campaign.  An effective case rarely starts out in finished form, as Athena sprung from the head of Zeus fully formed in Greek mythology. In its first stage of life, the Case may simply be a typewritten draft, marked DRAFT to encourage input.  In whatever form, the Case is the raison d’etre for why funds are needed and how they will build and expand, or simply preserve or strengthen, a cause deserving of philanthropic support. It must be clear, compelling, and credible. The most effective wording often comes from the comments of Board members and donors who read the initial drafts. The Case is a tool to educate and engage leadership. It must provoke comments from (a) donors with the capacity to make gifts of $1 million, $2.5 million, $5 million, $10 million and more as well as (b) potential leadership of a Capital Campaign Cabinet. It will also (c) form the basis for grant proposals for individual projects, (d) justify annual funding and project support, and (e) help individuals to justify making planned gifts and bequests for endowment. The immediate role for a Case Statement is to have a subject for discussion in initial conversations with the inner circle of Board members and other long-time contributors. It is the equivalent of a preliminary Master Plan. Think of is as the block of granite sculptor starts with before chipping away portions to reveal a final work of art. Board members and early interview subjects are the sculptors, guiding the phrasing of the eventual finished product. A good Case for Support emerges after four stages of development, to be described in a post later this week.

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How are afterschool and OST leaders approaching the intersection of STEM with youth leadership and community engagement in their programming? #CYESS conducted a study to find out! A new report describes findings from their latest survey and recommendations for what programs need to amplify and scale such approaches. https://conta.cc/3XmMXNm

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In the midst of federal grant season, reviewing and applying for opportunities can be overwhelming. For the best results: - Focus only on opportunities that you know are a perfect fit for your organization - Make sure you answer every question asked in the solicitation - Answer the question in the order they are asked

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Thinking about getting your CFRE? Join AFP Maryland Chapter tomorrow from 12-1pm to learn more about becoming a CFRE and the process.

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A capital campaign case for support is a document that outlines the needs and benefits of a nonprofit’s capital request. Read this case for support example to help assess your own case. #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitcapitalcampaign #capitalcampaign #capitalcampaignconsultant

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Opportunity

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When it comes to grant funding, relationship-building isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a game-changer. In our analysis of over 650 grant proposals from the past two years, we found that proposals where applicants cultivated funder relationships achieved a 26% higher win rate. This insight shows how critical it is to actively engage with funders before submitting proposals. Some actions to consider: - Schedule regular check-ins with funders to keep them updated on your mission’s impact. - Share program successes and challenges openly—transparency fosters trust. I’m thrilled to explore more of these insights and support organizations in making the most of their grant-seeking efforts. What actions can you take today to help cultivate your institutional funders? Want to learn more about leveraging relationship-building for funding success? Visit us here: https://lnkd.in/eVjK8Fjj #grants #Grantseeking #philanthropy #grantwriting #nonprofitfunding #nonprofit #fundraising

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Hurricane Helene Recovery: Combating Lies and Rumors (Misinformation) Thru Accurate News As Western North Carolina struggles to recover from Hurricane Helene, the spread of misinformation is posing a significant challenge. False rumors and conspiracy theories are hampering relief efforts and causing unnecessary panic among already stressed communities. As journalists, we have a crucial mission: to provide accurate, verified information to the public. This video demonstrates our commitment to on-the-ground reporting, fact-checking, and highlighting real solutions. At ‪Solutions Journalism Network, we call this "hope with teeth." By focusing on actual relief efforts and sharing verified stories, we aim to combat the spread of false information and provide hope to those affected by this disaster. My goal is to showcase the resilience of communities like Marion, N.C. and the surrounding areas, while also emphasizing the long road to recovery ahead. Through responsible journalism, we can help ensure that resources and support are directed where they're most needed, based on factual information rather than rumors or speculation. #HurricaneHelene, #disasterrecovery, #NCrecovery, #JournalismMatters

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The Otto Bremer Trust is launching new approaches to grantmaking. After this upcoming June 6 application deadline, OBT will no longer accept applications. Their new grantmaking model is two-pronged: 💠 Strategic grants 💠 -initiated and provided directly by OBT 💠 Community Responsive Fund💠 -grants through selected intermediary partners We wait to see what will happen to unsolicited grants, grant sizes, deadlines and current grantees. Says the press release "All of these changes are part of our efforts to continuously improve our grantmaking, allowing us to reduce the demands of grant applications while having a larger impact on the communities we serve. While OBT is changing its processes, our objectives and mission will not change. We are simply adjusting the process we use to deliver on our mission in a more impactful way." #fundraising #grantwriting #foundations #nonprofits https://lnkd.in/gUAq6DcZ

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Christians have always played a significant role in the politics of the United States and will continue to have a voice in shaping this county. However, perspectives on political involvement among believers vary widely, and the way Christians’ political engagement is perceived profoundly impacts our Christian witness. What are the appropriate ways for individual Christians and churches to engage in politics? Register free of charge at the link in the comments to join us Friday, September 20 us as we explore this important conversation at "Compelling and Credible Witness: The Church and Politics." #densem #seminary #politics #tgi

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Advancement Leaders Must Have a Vision, Too. There are common threads to what advancement leaders say they need in a president if they are to be optimally effective. The president needs, they say: A compelling vision Concrete examples of how that vision could be advanced through private investment To listen to where donors are coming from and suggest where interests could converge To stay on task, like a candidate running for office To patiently and methodically build strategic partnerships, not just chase the occasional gift To create a culture of accountability and transparency to ensure private support is applied to the greatest strategic effect To work toward building a stronger community of shared purpose Okay, fair enough, but then listen to some of the most common frustrations expressed by those same advancement leaders, including the fact that much of the board, the executive team and many internal stakeholders have naive if not unrealistic expectations about fundraising. That means advancement leaders need to have a plan to build internal support with the same elements presidents must have if they are to build external support. Those elements are contrasted below. Yes, I know, you have too little time as it is but too much of your time is spent explaining how this business works in a reactive, defensive mode. Accept that these barriers and limitations will be found in just about every organization and develop a plan to build greater internal awareness, understanding and participation. Help internal stakeholders see that building partnerships will get the organization to a better place than chasing gifts. Show how all will benefit over time by with a deeper understanding of philanthropy and by working more collaboratively. Take advantage of all the information you have on LinkedIn. Forward posts from fellow practitioners that speak to the issues that you think are too little understood within, especially those that cite research that debunk myths and point to more adaptive practices. You, too, must understand that you are like a candidate running for office. You must have a message and stay on it. You must be visible in the right places and be viewed as a good listener trying to represent the will of the people. The president must tell the story of the organization's unique strengths and contributions, then cast a vision of how it can better serve society using the right blend of wow and how. You must tell the story of how the greatest support won by the organization has been achieved by attending to relationships over time and how by expanding and deepening those relationships your organization can build a more sustainable philanthropic culture. If you hire a consultant, hire one that will assist you in this task, not one who will nurse delusions, offer the same old products and services, and ply simplistic formulas thereby ensuring your team will be held to increasingly unrealistic expectations.

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