Innovating Nonprofit Fundraising and Social Entrepreneurship: For Impact

October 20, 2009 | Nick Fellers (admin)

Just saw a note from one year ago today (19 Oct 08) in my journal… from über-investor Warren Buffett:

“Be fearful when others are greedy.
Be greedy when others are fearful.”

My parallel thought goes like this:

Be ASKING when others are hiding.
Be ASKING even when others are asking.

JUST ASK. It was almost a year ago when the economy crashed and everyone in the nonprofit world panicked. I wrote NOW MORE THAN EVER, where I basically said that this too shall pass….. and then that every For Impact organization needed to stay in front of its best investors (not hide under the desk).

I guess the recession is “officially” over. Dow just went back to 10,000. However, there is still a ton of people without jobs; and, clearly, things will never go back to the way they were.

For most of us in the third sector the DEMAND for our services and support has dramatically increased.

NOW MORE THAN EVER… we need to be out with our best CHAMPIONS and PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.

Go forth… and JUST ASK!

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October 19, 2009 | Nick Fellers (admin)

19 Oct 09 Birth Date

Today is my BIRTH DATE (19th of every month). A great day to review goals, re-connect with special people, etc.

I spent the morning at the coffee shop capturing ‘LIFE NOTES’ from 5 or 6 journals. (I’m revising my LIFE MAP… Version 49.)

Worked outside at the farm, then heading to Sullivan Brothers for a boxing workout. Then, quick visit with grandkids.

*Making your BIRTH DATE special is something I recommend to everyone. One day a month for yourself would seem to be a no-brainer.

P.S. Notre Dame Boxing and the Missions were featured on NBC at half-time of the USC-ND game last Saturday. To view (:02 minute)

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October 19, 2009 | Nick Fellers

It’s a boy!

Update: My wife, Anna, and I welcomed our first child to the world (very) early Friday morning: William (Will) Xavier Fellers.

Will and mom are doing great. He’s a big baby – coming in at 10lbs 11ozs! He’s built like a tight-end with long legs and big hands. It’s clear he will make an excellent addition to Fighting Irish recruiting class of 2027. Though, growing up around Tom he may just turn those long legs and arms into become a golden glove boxer…

Thanks all for your well wishes and support. Send an email – I’m happy to pass along a picture of the little ‘X-Man’ as many have taken to calling him… though I’m an internet geek I’m still weary of posting Will for the world at three days old

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October 14, 2009 | Nick Fellers

Sales Process (A Visual)

Wanted to share this illustration of a customized sales process Kerry and I did with a client. If you’ve been to a workshop you will recognize Predisposition > PTO (Present the Opportunity) > Follow-up from the Roadmap: Sales Process.

Though we made it for one client, I think it’s pretty near universal.

Leads feed into a PREDISPOSITION STRATEGY

VISIT! Do Discovery and then PTO… could be two visits or one but not more.

The GOAL is a big deal to me… if we can get them to say, “Wow, this is great, what can I do to help?” Then it’s not about cultivation, time or a chess-like gambit. It’s about communicating the ‘how to help’… now/today.

If they don’t say, “Wow!” then we effectively JUST ASK around the goal… and get permission to talk about the funding plan on the next (second) visit.

Follow-up – is a STRATEGY, not an ACTION ITEM.

Download the Visual

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October 6, 2009 | Nick Fellers (admin)

Staff or Staph

A special thanks to one of our Senior Partners, Steve Geuther…

Are your people STAFF or STAPH??? Are they INFECTIOUS… or an INFECTION???

While this whole ‘economy, recession, implosion‘ thing is just really a sorry excuse for not being out with our best prospects… it does provide a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to RE-THINK and RE-DESIGN and RE-ALLOCATE our personnel, people, team.

STAFF or STAPH is not just about TALENT, but about ATTITUDE!!!

If I were you, I’d use this time to seriously execute on Jim Collin’s ‘BUS’ strategy.

Right people on the bus. Wrong people off the bus. Right people in the right seats.
Read more

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October 6, 2009 | Nick Fellers

Goal of the First Visit

My goal is pretty much the same on every first visit. It’s to get the other person to say, “Wow, this is great, what can I do to help?” Tom embedded this simple goal early on – and it’s stuck.

If you can get the other person to say – in effect – “I’m in!”, then it’s not about cultivation, a series of complicated chess moves or backroom meetings about ‘timing’. It is about answering the question: What can I do to help?

You can get there in two years or twenty minutes. It often comes down to your message or how long it takes you to do discovery and make a connection to your message. To get to this goal means:

* Clearly communicating the CAUSE.

* Laying out a tight CASE. (Think of CASE as a solution or address to the CAUSE.)

* You’ve created ENGAGEMENT. In all likelihood, you’ve listened your tail off to do so.

* Bonus: Brought a level of PASSION to the first visit. Read more

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October 6, 2009 | Nick Fellers (admin)

Change Is A Bear

“CHANGE is a bear, but it’s better than death.” Seth Godin

I’m finishing up a book/monograph on CHANGE, titled CHANGE [THE] RULES. I saw a recent post by Seth Godin (Best-Selling Author & Permission Marketing Guru) that ended with the above quote.

We just finished a couple of workshops on the West Coast (San Diego) with 150 people. Great group. Great energy. Great desire to change, but…

Still a lot of issues. Here’s my blunt, authentic, challenging (and I believe relevant) call to action.

STOP worrying about the economy, your Board, budget cuts, etc.

START focusing on the SOLUTION, not on the PROBLEMS.

Right now, you have some cash, some talented staff, and a lot of people who are counting on your for help. Read more

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October 5, 2009 | Nick Fellers

How to Get a ‘Nonprofit’ Job

As an entrepreneur, people often come to me for advice on ‘getting hired’. As someone that lives in the For–Impact-World (read: often, not always not-for-profit arena), people often come to me for advice about getting into field.

I’m posting this primarily as a reference point – some points are unique, some are not. Although first person, I’m just offering an employer’s perspective. I’m 11 for 11 this year in helping friends find something that really works for them. Good luck!

You want a job. I don’t.

Don’t email asking about ‘job openings’… looking for a job. Etc. As someone that hires people, I’m not really motivated about writing another paycheck.

This means most of the traditional ‘job hunting’ stuff is not relevant.

Instead, I’m trying to align myself with people that are super passionate about changing the world – that see this as a vocation, a calling, a purpose. If it’s a job, then YOUR purpose is a paycheck. Substitute ‘Changing the World’ with ‘Serving People’, ‘Inventing the Coolest Technology’, ‘Shaping Young People’, etc.

Don’t send a resume. Do start a conversation. Read more

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October 2, 2009 | Nick Fellers

To Be In A Campaign Or Not To Be In A Campaign – That Is NOT The Question

“When should we start the campaign?”

I spent Wednesday morning with the board and leadership from an 11-year old private school. They had asked me to help them facilitate the answer to this question. Some of the board members wanted to start months ago and others wanted to wait – for the economy, for planning, for a variety of reasons.

More than a ‘timing thing’ it was a ‘perspective thing’. Some leadership said, “We need to be having conversations NOW.” Other leaders didn’t want to budge until all the stars were aligned.

The debate is not unique. “When do we pull the trigger?”

I think this is the WRONG question and so it’s going to be hard getting consensus on an answer. So, for you and for this board, I want to RE-FRAME the issue.

Some more about this school:

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October 2, 2009 | Nick Fellers

Quantum Leap Framework (updated)

I posted a first iteration of QLF in July. Have updated below…

Have a look below at our Quantum Leap Framework. We use this as a FRAMEWORK for conversation, services, training, solutions and more (just about everything, really, that involves taking some sort of a QUANTUM LEAP with your FOR IMPACT organization.)

Hopefully you will find this transcends funding issues and offers a framework for organizational IMPACT and INCOME. Moreover, this is applicable to any organization/business/movement looking to Take a Quantum Leap.,

FRAMEWORK: A framework can be adapted to situations and organizations. It’s not a one-size fits all process. It provides a pathway for thinking through a challenge or complex issues including but not limited to:

How to make a quantum leap with your organization
How to re-design
Facilitating training/coaching/strategy sessions
Launch a campaign
Start-up or re-start
Jumpstart funding
Engage board members or stakeholder groups at a higher level
Strategic planning
Designing a launching a start-up venture (any sector)

I think the applications are limitless.

Here are some example applications:

On Campaigns: A campaign is a strategic component of the framework. (The campaign ‘process’ is determined by the VISION/PEOPLE.)

Strategic Planning: Most strategic plans talk about the how-to without ever going up to the ‘vision level’ to get consensus about the ‘where to’ or ‘why’ which is needed for SIMPLICITY.

People/Process/Performance: A little bit of Jim Collins’ notion – get the right people on the bus first – then you can drive the bus anywhere (perhaps with a clear process and ways to measure performance).

Board Meetings: Use this framework to differentiate between Vision/Strategy/Execution. (Hint – stay at Visionary level with time to dip down / frame strategy.)

Decision-Making: Action/Execution starts by ‘drawing the line in the sand’

For me, this FRAMEWORK captures components of BIG CHANGE… BIG LEAPS!

DOWNLOAD/VIEW QUANTUM LEAP FRAMEWORK PDF

Please leave a comment – tell me how this framework applies to your org/operation/situation.