Contributions Magazine is a print publication published quarterly. Below, you'll find the lead article from the current edition, as well as a library of past featured articles.
Each issue of Contributions offers executive directors and development officers a wealth of articles, information, and tips on subjects such as: board development, major gifts fundraising, prospect and donor research, direct mail fundraising, volunteer management, nonprofit marketing, Internet and email fundraising, proposal writing, planned giving, and corporate and foundation fundraising.
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Feature Article from the Current Edition
Does Your Organization Have What it Takes?
Groundbreaking work raises eyebrows
by James Gelatt
One of the enduring questions we all address in our work with nonprofits is: What makes for success?
If your first reaction to that question is: Been there, done that – I’m with you. At first blush, one might think this is hardly new territory. Au contraire. There is actually some work done recently that is not only new, but even groundbreaking – and well worth learning about.
Up until now, much of the theory about what makes for success came from the for-profit sector. Many of us read In Search of Excellence, by Tom Peters and colleagues; or Jim Collins’ From Good to Great. While these had some applicability, the application was flawed:
Tom Peters recently disclosed that, despite the enormous success of In Search of Excellence, he and his colleagues determined what came to be seen as the essential factors by, well, winging it. In a recent article, Peters says that he came up with the list of essential success factors out of necessity. He had a presentation to make the next morning, so he came up with the list sitting in his hotel room.
I’m not saying that Peters and his colleagues did not have ample anecdotal information to draw on. They were privileged to visit many of the most prestigious companies in the country and around the world. But they did not come to the conclusions that form the basis of their book by anything more than intuition driven by a time crunch. Continue reading this article
(Click here for a list of archived feature articles)
About Our Columnists
Joseph Barbato
Mr. Barbato is the author of How to Write Knockout Proposals and Attracting the Attention Your Cause Deserves, by Emerson & Church, Publishers. He is also president of Barbato Associates (www.barbatoassociates.com), a consulting firm in Alexandria, VA, that produces case statements, brochures, and other persuasive pieces for nonprofits. His more than 20 years of experience include stints in major capital campaigns at NYU and The Nature Conservancy. He can be reached at 703-379-5441.
Penelope Burk
Ms. Burk is President of Cygnus Applied Research, Inc. (Chicago/Toronto/York, UK). The company is known for its groundbreaking research on how superior donor relations can influence retention and generosity (Donor-Centered Fundraising, 2003). Further information on the company’s research and services is available at www.donorcentered.com.
Ken Burnett
Mr. Burnett is the author of the worldwide best seller Relationship Fundraising, and its sequel Friends for Life. He is chairman of Burnett Associates Group Limited, the group of marketing and communications companies he founded in 1983. He is also chairman of the board of trustees of ActionAid, one of the UK’s top 20 not-for-profit organizations. Burnett is a former vice chair of the Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers (the UK’s equivalent of NSFRE, served for seven years on the board of the International Fund Raising Group (now The Resource Alliance) and is an honorary Fellow of the UK’s Institute of Direct Marketing. You can reach him by email at ken@kenburnett.com
John Carver
A provocative authority on governing boards, Dr. Carver is the creator of the Policy Governance® model. He is author of Boards That Make a Difference, John Carver on Board Leadership, and over 160 published articles. He co-authored Reinventing Your Board, the CarverGuide Series, and Corporate Boards that Create Value. He co-edits the bimonthly Board Leadership. He and Miriam Carver, his wife and consulting/writing colleague, live in Atlanta. He can be reached at johncarver@carvergovernance.com
Larry Checco
Larry Checco is author of Branding for Success: A Roadmap for Raising the Visibility and Value of Your Nonprofit Organization. He is president of Checco Communications (www.checcocomm.net) and a nationally recognized public speaker, workshop presenter and consultant on branding.
Jarene Frances Lee
Ms. Frances Lee is a co-author of What We Learned (the Hard Way) about Supervising Volunteers: An Action Guide for Making Your Job Easier. Lee is trainer and consultant in volunteer program management.
James Gelatt, PhD, CFRE
Mr. Gelatt is the author of Managing Nonprofits in the 21st Century and general editor of Aspen's Fund Raising Series for the 21st Century. He is the president of Prentice Associates, a management consulting company specializing in associations and other national nonprofits, and a past-president of the Greater Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Society of Association Executives. You can reach him by email at jgelatt@umuc.edu
Gayle L. Gifford, ACFRE
Ms. Gifford is the author of How Are We Doing, by Emerson & Church, Publishers. In addition to her provocative writing and speaking, she is a college lecturer and president of Cause and Effect Inc. (www.ceffect.com), a consulting firm based in Providence, RI that helps a wide range of nonprofits build their strategic capacity. You can reach her at 401.331.2272 or gayle@ceffect.com.
Susan Golden, Ph.D., CFRE
Ms. Golden is the author of Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship and a consultant who works with organizations in grantseeking and capital campaigns. She serves corporate as well as nonprofit clients, and is a frequent speaker and lecturer. Dr. Golden's office is in Cleveland (www.thegoldengroup.org), and may be reached at (216) 464-9700 or by email at SLGolden@TheGoldenGroup.org
Kay Sprinkel Grace
Ms. Grace is the author of The Ultimate Board Member's Book, Fundraising Mistakes that Bedevil All Boards, and Over Goal, all by Emerson & Church, Publishers. A core faculty member of the Fund Raising School since 1980, Grace is a San Francisco-based organizational consultant who works with a wide range of local, national and international nonprofit organizations in the development of their human and financial resources. She may be reached at 415-495-5355 or by email at ksbstar@aol.com
Stephen Hitchcock
Mr. Hitchcock is the author of Open Immediately, by Emerson & Church, Publishers. Hitchcock is also Vice President of Client Services at Mal Warwick Associates in Berkeley, CA (www.malwarwick.com). He can be reached at (510) 843-8888 or steve@malwarwick.com
Jerold Panas
An author, popular speaker and consultant, Mr. Panas is considered one of the most creative men in the field of fund raising. His books include Asking, The Fundraising Habits of Supremely Successful Boards, and Mega Gifts, all published by Emerson & Church. Panas is Executive Partner of one of America's leading fund raising firms. He can be reached at ideas@pop.net
Andy Robinson
Mr. Robinson is the author of Big Gifts for Small Groups and Great Boards for Small Groups, published by Emerson & Church. He is a consultant and trainer based in Plainfield, Vermont and may be reached at 802-479-7365 or andyfund@earthlink.net.
Maureen K. Robinson
The author of Nonprofit Boards that Work: The End of One-Size-Fits-All Governance. Ms. Robinson is a consultant in nonprofit governance and management in the Washington, D.C. area. If you have comments or questions, she can be reached at MKRobin500@aol.com.
Susan Ruderman
A former manager of prospect research activities at MIT and Harvard, Ms. Ruderman is vice president of Veritas Information Services (www.veritasinfo.com), a fund raising and executive search research consulting firm in Arlington, Mass. Ruderman now specializes in research training for nonprofits and welcomes comments and suggestions from readers via e-mail at ruderman@tiac.net.
Madeline Stanionis
Madeline Stanionis is the CEO of Watershed (www.watershedcompany.com), an online fundraising and advocacy agency. She is also the author of Raising Thousands (if Not Tens of Thousands) of Dollars with Email, published by Emerson & Church. Ms. Stanionis has been raising money, organizing, and communicating for organizations and causes for 20 years, not counting her second-grade campaign for George McGovern.
Martin Teitel
Martin Teitel is Executive Director of the Cedar Tree Foundation, a private foundation and the author of Thank You for Submitting Your Proposal, by Emerson & Church. Previously he served as Senior Fellow and Executive Director of the CS Fund, a philanthropic foundation, and also Western Field Director for a public charity, The Youth Project.
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