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Get creative with your corporate giving
Corporations can be remarkable philanthropic partners – and nonprofits that look beyond donations and sponsorships can unlock additional...

Chris B.
Mar 12, 20251 min read


Your Donors Are Closer Than You Think
Early in my fundraising career, my boss gave me a copy of the local business journal – an issue that featured the 100 wealthiest people...

Chris B.
Mar 5, 20252 min read


Don't Go Alone
What does it take to thrive in a nonprofit career? Las week, I moderated a panel discussion that tackled that topic – and others –...

Chris B.
Feb 26, 20251 min read


Let Me Convince You To Donate
I used to think that there were certain words or phrases that could convince someone to give to a nonprofit. Say or write the right thing...

Chris B.
Feb 19, 20251 min read


Stories we tell when things are grim
The stories that we tell ourselves - and the stories we revisit when things are grim - can tell us a lot about the values, ideals, and...

Chris B.
Jan 29, 20251 min read


Fundraising Mistakes: Cold Calling!
Ready to fundraise? Grab your phone list, your script, and start dialing for dollars! Early in my career, I thought that fundraising was...

Chris B.
Jan 22, 20251 min read


Fundraising Mistakes: Find the Rich!
I've made a lot of mistakes in my fundraising career. One of the first ones was believing that the most important skill in fundraising...

Chris B.
Jan 8, 20251 min read


The Airing of Grievances
The holidays can be a deeply stressful time for nonprofit leaders - especially those in the fundraising space. The pressure to hit...

Chris B.
Dec 18, 20242 min read


Free Webinar: Unlocking your board's fundraising potential
Nonprofit board members can be world-class fundraisers – but only after you’ve overcome three common challenges and mindsets. By focusing...

Chris B.
Nov 20, 20241 min read


Peak Podcast!
Last week, I had the chance to talk with Eli Libby on the Peak Fulfillment Podcast. We had a great chat about my work, the importance of...

Chris B.
Nov 12, 20241 min read


Try This First: Free Fundraising Resources
All too often, we hold off on starting the work because we don’t know where to start – and we want to be ready (or for things to be...

Chris B.
Nov 4, 20241 min read


Happy Anniversary (put down the microwave)
Fundraising is hard. Really hard, sometimes. But ... nonprofits sometimes make it more difficult than necessary (like running a marathon...

Chris B.
Oct 27, 20242 min read


Try This First - Here We Go!
The first episode of Try This First is now live on YouTube! In this episode, I talk with Emily Happy from The Philanthropy Collective...

Chris B.
Oct 1, 20241 min read


Try This First: Starting Your Fundraising Strategy!
All too often, we hold off on starting the work because we don’t know where to start – and we want to be ready (or for things to be...

Chris B.
Sep 26, 20241 min read


It's Not You, It's Me
The hardest part of my yoga class this morning was not the poses, and it wasn't even the act of getting up and out the door for a 6am...

Chris B.
Sep 11, 20241 min read


A Quick Word About Goal Setting
A few thoughts about goal setting and accountability in fundraising. Drop me a note if you are looking for some clarity on how to set...

Chris B.
Sep 4, 20241 min read


It's Not That Bad ... the Case for Nonprofit Evaluation
What does an unreliable home wi-fi have to do with evaluating the effectiveness of your fundraising strategy or your nonprofit board?...

Chris B.
Aug 28, 20241 min read


It's Not Me, It's You
I recently completed a leadership coaching certification course from The Concord Leadership Group LLC . It was an intense program – lots...

Chris B.
Aug 22, 20241 min read


Time to Align & Accelerate
“My board doesn’t know what they are doing.” “I joined the board, but I don’t know what to do now.” “We’ve got a good board … but I feel...

Chris B.
Aug 20, 20241 min read


Leaders are Readers - History Edition
Recently finished The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson. As with all...

Chris B.
Aug 7, 20241 min read
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