Behind the smiling faces of the people who raise money for small non-profits and write grants for charter schools, are stressed out human beings always alert to the forces that make it easier or harder to inspire others to support their important missions.
A long time ago, before I became a depth psychologist, I ran a successful consulting/coaching business (alinea, LLC) to help small non-profits and innovative schools, and even entire school districts attract more resources.
I was so good at helping them do a better job telling their story, articulating their needs better, and cultivating relationships, people began calling me the cheerleader for small non-profits.
I loved that work so much!
The uncertainty and chaos of today is reminding me
why I was so needed back then.
My home state's public education budget had been slashed by a billion dollars. Needless to say, there was panic. I stood in front of a standing-room only audience at the annual education convention and said, "If you're waiting for the government to get it's act together, you might be waiting a long time." I reminded them that people supported them, entire communities supported them, despite the hidden agenda of politicians.
For the next few years, my growing team and I traveled the state, empowering non-profits, schools, and school districts to engage their communities. It was amazing and gratifying work over those ten years. I learned so much from all those organizations about how to help them be more independent, that I articulated it in two books.
Both of these books go back to the basics, which is always what fundraisers must do during hard times. If you need one of these books, I'm including links to purchase them. If you don't, perhaps you can forward these resources to others.
The Secret to Better Schools:
A New Mindset for Engaging the Community
"For those who understand that "it takes a village" ... this book provides practical ways for schools to engage the community. It is not a superficial approach to sharing resonsibility, and school leaders who embark on the proces ... need to expect to be challenged. But what Lukovich makes clear, through real life stories of engagement, is that the process can transform the relationships between schools, families, busiensses and the community."
Sister Mary Diez, PhD,
Graduate Dean (former), Alverno College
In my book, The Secret to Better Schools: A New Mindset for Engaging the Community, I walk readers through the three phase program program I developed to tell a more effective and inspiring story, be more specific about how people can help, and how to strategically cultivate relationships with potential and current donors. My real-life examples of success and ideas that can be put to work to benefit students immediately make this book inspiring and practical!
The Secret to Fundraising: It's NOT About Asking for Money
"We forget that when we raise funds for something, say a building, that it isn't about the building, but the people who will occupy it. Deborah's book is conversant, chock full of anecdotes, and will lead to a winning strategy of success."
Dr. David Borst,
Dean of Business Administration (former)
Concordia Unviersity Wisconsin
During tough economic times, nonprofits suffer, but these times can be seen as opportunities to get back to basics when it comes to fundraising. The money is still there, it's just in fewer hands.
Throw away the fancy strategies that focus too much on donors and not enough on mission. Spend more time inspiring people to support your vision for the future.
My book, The Secret to Fundraising: It's NOT About Asking for Money, offers an alternative way of thinking (a spitiritual way of thinking) about resource development PLUS a user-friendly three-part formula for getting better results no matter your resource needs. Throughout the book, I help the reader understand how his or her own thoughts limit results, and that's why I begin by sharing my philosophy of eternal optimism + genuine relationship building = sustainability.
After inspiring readers to understand that there are resource opportunities right in front of them, I plunge into teaching my three-part formula for achieving sustainability through community engagement: Story + Direction + Relationships = Sustainability.
You Can't Get to Your Vision; You Must Walk From It
In hard times, it is more important than ever to proceed as though you have already accomplished your vision. It is the only way. It's a natural law that like attracts like. You know this in your gut. When you start the day in a good mood, things are likely to go pretty well and can brush off minor frustrations. When you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, as they say, often the rest of the day is a snowball of more negative events.
Both of these resources reflect this natural law. If you are operating from a scarcity, your brain's reticular activating system will filter in stimuli that matches that. You'll always be fighting scarcity. But if you can get solid on your vision, and operate from an emotional state of what it feels like to have achieved the vision, the universe will oblige. Test it out!
There's no downside to proving that you attract what you are inside.
Dr. Deborah Lukovich
Cheers to Imagining Your New Vision!