Involvement Breeds Commitment!

Have you every bought a book, been disappointed with the content but pleased you paid the money. Reason? The title was worth the price and the title phrase stays with you and helps for years to come.

So to today. When it comes to growing a charities reach, just remember the phrase...involvement breeds commitment. It's what I call the billy club effect. Even a bystander at a protest who gets whopped by a police billy club soon thinks more highly of the cause she had only been previously observing.

Involvement breeds commitment.

Just Blankety Blank ____!

A consultant will appropriately bill a charity $45,000 for a customized, bound, 58 page study. It will include a relatively thorough feasibility study of what money might be out there for them. A very carefully crafted stretch target will be set that could potentially quadruple their annual income.

All for nought. If...they don't ask.

All things being equal you can grow tomorrow...JUST ASK!

The Donor Owns The Donor!

Methinks it is the height of control freak, ludicrous, pomposity (said with some firmness!) that a charity would say that so and so is "their" donor. Yes a charity needs to work it's buns off to engage, involve, cultivate, steward and even deeply friend. But own!

The very definition of a gift means no strings attached and the most wonderful gift to a charity is a free moral agent who for a period of time also loves what they love. While it's in play, it's a wonderful synergy!

Without Sales Nothing Is Happening!

Research, talk, relationship management.
Pledges, invites, experiences sent.
Letters, testimonials, books lent.
Committees, galas, volunteers went.

So?

Without sales nothing is happening.
With sales, lives are changed!