Brian Kateman

Richard Tofel and Evan Smith on, well, a lot! Words of wisdom for anyone keeping the flame of local news burning. We link to Tofel's full Q&A interview in this brief gloss.

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Philanthropy is changing. But knowing where trends are headed gives fundraisers an advantage. Read insights from BDI CEO Michael J. Tomlinson on the latest Giving USA report to help chart your course as fundraiser.

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💼 What’s on the Horizon for Fundraisers in 2024? 💼 Our survey of development directors reveals key trends that will shape fundraising strategies this year. Did you know most non-profits raise most of their funds in Q3 & Q4? Are you ready? 🔍 Top Insights: - Time-Intensive Donor Cultivation: In-person solicitations are still the gold standard, but how can we make them more efficient? - CRM Struggles: Many are finding their CRMs more of a hindrance than a help—time to rethink your system? - Rising Revenue, Tight Resources: With ambitious goals but limited staff expansion, how will your team keep up? Stay ahead of the curve and adapt your strategies for success in 2024. Explore our findings to fine-tune your approach. #Fundraising2024 #NonprofitGrowth #DonorEngagement

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“What do LPs want to see from a GP offering an impact fund?”   In this New Private Markets article, featuring insights from Monument Group, Toby Mitchenall lays out some best practice recommendations for fundraising success in the impact space, ranging from a detailed theory of change to incorporating sustainability objectives into performance reviews. #PrivateEquity #ImpactInvesting #Fundraising

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Great article by Kirstyn Brendlen. TLDR: 1. We can't adopt ourselves out of the shelter overcrowding and resulting euthanasia crisis that's happening right now. Intakes are too high, and the majority aren't spay/neutered. 2. Owning a pet is too expensive for many. It's hard to find affordable housing that accepts pets. And the cost of veterinary care is skyrocketing. 3. With VC's aggressively buying up vet clinics across the county, vet care is only going to keep increasing as vets are compensated for the services they do (the same flaw we have in human medicine?). 4. Affordable vet clinics could help solve the problem by TNR'ing community cats and making it financially feasible for more people to have a companion animal. Two questions this raises: How would we do this with the current veterinarian shortage? And is there any benefit to addressing the fact that adoption may be down even among people who can afford pet ownership (perhaps people no longer feel a moral imperative to "adopt, don't shop")?

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Exciting news! Better Together's advocacy partner WhyHunger has submitted two panels for SXSW 2025, and we need your votes to bring these vital discussions to the stage. Here's a glance at the panels: 1. 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 - Explore the future of agriculture as WhyHunger's Executive Director Jenique Jones, moderates a dialogue with global experts. 2. 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 & 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 - Dive into how Indigenous knowledge and sustainable farming can address climate challenges. 📅 Voting is open until August 18. Your support can elevate these crucial topics at SXSW! 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 "𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗽" 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀! #SXSW2025 #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSecurity #WhyHunger #BetterTogether

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In October of the past year, my dear friend and Food Solutions New England colleague Karen Spiller offered important testimony to the Human Rights Committee reviewing the U.S. on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). I applaud her courage and compassion, always. "In her statement, Karen urged the Committee to recommend to the United States that it: 🦋 Strengthen local and #regionalfoodsystems as a pathway to restore food autonomy to communities, and to reduce the environmental harms caused by large-scale farming. 🦋 Hold large-scale agricultural companies and extractive industries liable for their impacts on #life-sustaining resources such as clean water and food. 🦋 Examine current lending practices to integrate #sustainability and racial #equity considerations for small food producers. 🦋 Raise the federal minimum wage to a true #livingwage, recognizing that poverty is the root cause of hunger. 🦋 Make #reparations to communities whose labor has been systematically exploited and have been dispossessed of their land since the founding of the United States." Read more about Karen's testimony here - https://lnkd.in/epTccBri And consider signing the FSNE Pledge that aligns with Karen's statement. More here - https://lnkd.in/eduG5ic

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As a former Food Service Director, I was always looking for technology that could help track the types of local food and dollars spent. I looking forward to joining this webinar to learn what reports can be generated with the data collected. Let me know if any of you will also be attending.

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Elevate your fundraising skills with our expertly crafted resources at Fit Fundraising! Discover our top picks like "The Donor Engagement Strategy Playbook" and "Rainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts". Plus, enhance your learning with our virtual training program "Giving Is Down. Now What?"—free copy of Rainmaking included! Perfect for nonprofits looking to boost their fundraising results. Dive into these invaluable resources today: https://lnkd.in/e68f466j 💼📈 #FundraisingSuccess #NonprofitResource

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Shouldn't We Be "Onboarding" New Donors? Are our traditional notions of stewardship responding to one of the deepest donor desires - to belong? Have we convinced ourselves that what they want most is to be thanked and recognized? Our research shows that most donors feel sufficiently thanked but inadequately informed about the impact of their investment. But isn't the best way to inform them to show, not tell, them? Does it not make sense that the sooner we welcome and "onboard" them, the better our chances of retaining them not just as a donor but as a member of our community? And, if they feel as if they are a member of our community, will they not be more receptive to future funding requests? We know that considerate and informative onboarding is a key factor in employee retention, so does it not stand to reason that the same would be true for new donors? Some of the best onboarding practices for new staff, according to Kelly Main of Forbes magazine, include: ⏺ Give out a welcome package ⏺ Make the first day exciting ⏺ Share your definition of success ⏺ Stay true to your culture ⏺ Check in regularly ⏺ Involve senior leaders Is one of the major reasons we lose so many first-time donors that we don't welcome them into our organizations and provide them materials and experiences that make them feel like insiders and valued members of our community? Wouldn't a more formal and systematic onboarding approach greatly increase our chances of retaining them for years to come? https://lnkd.in/eCFnAkV9

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The GivingTuesday Data Commons' 2023 Lookback Report shows a robust giving ecosystem, but U.S. nonprofits face ongoing declines in donor participation. The challenge is clear, but so is the opportunity. A sense of belonging is key to giving, yet 74% of Americans feel disconnected from their communities. At the @American Journalism Project, we see #localnews as a crucial connector within communities. When people are informed and feel a part of their community, they're more likely to contribute to its well-being. There is a silver lining: new donors increased by 2.3% in the U.S. — the first rise since 2021. But with donor retention down 3.5%, the report suggests U.S. nonprofits must double down on engaging current supporters and inviting a more diverse range of individuals into their support ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/eWd2xkXZ

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I cannot wait to see what happens with this. I do think the future of animal welfare and human health will be integrating public funds. The health of our community is reflected in our animal shelters. As Dr. Michael Blackwell Program for Pet Equity so succinctly said, "If the community sneezes, the animal shelter catches a cold." Additionally, on the positive note, the studies showcase that animal human bond strongly correlate with human health. If people are forced to give up their pets due to financial constraints, and spay/neuter is decreasing due to financial constraints we need to re-strategize for the sake of our human community and animal. Can we have government run low-cost prevention clinics, much like our own human clinics? Can we provide grants and financial support for spay/neuter much like NY has done? Can we go a step further - if we need more veterinarians, can we support them through school if they can give some time in these government run clinics or similar? These new ideas take funding, time, a willing risktaker; I'm not oblivious that this will be easy or a short-term solution. However, ask yourself, can our communities continue to take the risk of not supporting all these facets of animal and human welfare?

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Fundraising real talk: is your donor prospecting process more like liquor and guessing -- or driven by solid data? If you're interested in the latter, look no further than my brilliant colleague Pauline Palkovic. Pauline's one-stop shop, Acorn Hill Associates, can generate the research and strategy to power your prospecting and land your next lead gift. Check out her helpful blog post for Hudson Valley Nonprofit Consultants on what makes a prime donor prospect.

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I cringe at 2 aspects of this opinion piece: 1. Government action alone will not create momentum for climate solutions. The private sector must engage, nonprofits must engage, policymakers must engage, consumers must engage. 2. Isolating one of these segments and saying "they failed" sends the message that efforts should cease, or that there is no solution to a well-documented existential threat. That's silly. If we have 50 years of setbacks to uncover 1 sweeping solution that, you know, keeps the planet habitable for our species...I'm ok with that! #ClimateChange #PrivateSector #Nonprofits #Policymakers #Consumers #ClimateSolutions

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Another gem from Jeff, shining a spotlight on Kevin's wisdom - in every communication, in every message or phrase, ask yourself: "why will a donor care about this". Good #fundraisers get it. But if your message focuses on the "what" instead of the "why"; if terms like "mission" are confused with "vision" and "purpose"—remind your non-fundraising colleagues to focus on why your charity exists. The problem to be solved is the Emotional Tension that donors share with your organisation. This is the fundamental insight to forming meaningful connections with supporters—and where every conversation should begin. Check out the articles for more wisdom https://lnkd.in/gvSA3beR https://lnkd.in/gVUpKa2M #fundraising #charities MIGHTY ALLY Moceanic

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FREE Webinar hosted by @Givebetter: Top 10 ways to effectively acknowledge your donors In today's fast-paced world, donor acknowledgments often go by the wayside—but they’re a crucial pillar in forming meaningful connections and trust with your supporters. In this free webinar, I will guide you through ten essential strategies for thanking your donors that will warm their hearts and keep them plugged into your mission. I have taken all of her best tips, tools, and lessons learned and whipped them up into a masterclass in donor relations you don't want to miss. 📅 Aug 14, 2024 ⏰ 2:00 PM EST Join us to learn: 1. How to adapt your acknowledgments for modern audiences with shorter attention spans and increased competition 2. How to identify key reports and data points needed to increase efficiency and timeliness 3. When to use digital acknowledgments vs. print and how to leverage both mediums to maximize engagement and impact Register today: https://ow.ly/Ejoo50SQ7I8

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FREE Webinar hosted by @Givebetter: Top 10 ways to effectively acknowledge your donors In today's fast-paced world, donor acknowledgments often go by the wayside—but they’re a crucial pillar in forming meaningful connections and trust with your supporters. In this free webinar, I will guide you through ten essential strategies for thanking your donors that will warm their hearts and keep them plugged into your mission. I have taken all of her best tips, tools, and lessons learned and whipped them up into a masterclass in donor relations you don't want to miss. 📅 Aug 14, 2024 ⏰ 2:00 PM EST Join us to learn: 1. How to adapt your acknowledgments for modern audiences with shorter attention spans and increased competition 2. How to identify key reports and data points needed to increase efficiency and timeliness 3. When to use digital acknowledgments vs. print and how to leverage both mediums to maximize engagement and impact Register today: https://ow.ly/Ejoo50SQ7I8

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One of the questions that often comes up in our workshop, Facilitative Leadership for Social Change, including in a session this morning with the Food Solutions New England Network Leadership Institute cohort, goes something like this: “It’s great that I’m learning all of these practical collaborative #leadership and #facilitation skills, but what happens when I’m not the one leading or facilitating?” How can we keep things rolling when we aren’t formally "in charge" and when formal leadership is perhaps not so skillful? My answer: There’s usually some opportunity to lead, ask good questions, and to facilitate "from the chair." Behind most of the practices, frameworks, and tools that we offer in Facilitative Leadership for Social Change (FL4SC) is at least one good question that can be asked to help to move a group towards realizing greater collaborative potential. The point is to ask these in a spirit of service to help make more transparent, intentional, accessible, equitable and shared our #collaboration. For more, read this short article that was originally a blog post that was picked up by Nonprofit Quarterly: https://lnkd.in/eWDmXAz

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