Crafting a Digital Campaign
"We're so behind on digital fundraising... I don't even know where to start!" I've heard this phrase more times than I can count recently from development officers at conferences and…
Bob Ross FTW
“What about Bob Ross?,” I said. “Yes... He’s iconic, he’s revered by our traditional audiences, and younger generations love him,” our social media manager contemplated, “we could do trivia and…
The Struggle Is Real
Imagine… A young fundraising director has been hired to raise money for a newly created division of a university. He is filled with ideas for events and community collaboration, including…
Why I Wrote a Book
I was on a plane flying back from a public media conference in Chicago when the idea started to settle deep into my mind. Like a rogue bramble that nestled…
Help, I’m Drowning!
When I am asked to present at conferences, it's most often related to social media, our ambassador program, or other digital efforts. And while I love sharing knowledge and experience…
Put on the Brakes
When my daughter was born, my heart nearly exploded with a love so deep, it's practically impossible to verbalize. When she was three months old, I handed her off to…
Best Tuesday Ever
The fact that it's Giving Tuesday is reason enough to celebrate. But this year, Giving Tuesday falls on my birthday: December 1. It's the best Tuesday ever! Following Black Friday…
A Morning Feeding the Hungry
Her hair was wrapped in a modest bun and the apron over her long dress was clean and pressed. She carefully filled plastic cups with water and arranged them neatly on…
People Powered Billboard
I sat on a small plastic folding chair 15 feet off the ground on a three-tiered metal scaffolding. Along with 63 other people (42 of them directly above me), I held a giant…
Watermelon: A Fourth of July Tradition
A Different Kind of Fourth of July
It's the Fourth of July! A day when Americans across the nation celebrate our independence with flags, hot dogs, watermelon, and fireworks. We join in the fun of course with…