by Barbara Barron | Posted September 11th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter “When should we launch our an annual fund appeal when people are being asked every day to donate to the elections?” Are you hearing and reading this question, too? I have clients asking me about the right timing for their fall appeal. I’m reading articles about whether …
Here’s to Our Successors
by Barbara Barron | Posted August 28th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter Most of us in advancement will move around quite a bit during our careers. Before becoming a consultant eight (!) years ago, I had four experiences of stepping into the role of Director following someone else. But in each of those situations, the person ahead of me …
How Cohort Shifts Will Impact Jobs in Fundraising
by Barbara Barron | Posted August 14th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter You don’t need me to tell you that the demographics of our parents are changing. You feel it and see it every day. Gone from most of our schools’ parent bodies are the Baby Boomers. They are approaching and entering retirement and their kids are beyond our …
What’s the Power of the Debrief?
by Barbara Barron | Posted April 24th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter Last week, I was writing a summary of a capital campaign just completed. I do this to pull into one document the highlights (and low points) of a campaign. I recap key moments and decisions we made that changed the course of the campaign, and the surprises …
How Can We Make Good Use of AI In Advancement?
by Barbara Barron | Posted April 10th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter Are you using AI in your advancement work yet? This is a question I am asking my clients and asking myself. Even more on point: how can we make good use of this technology that is emerging with lightning speed? What are the right and ethical uses …
Why Would a Consultant Choose to Work with Your School?
by Barbara Barron | Posted March 27th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter Before I write anything that might have me drifting into the land of self-promotion, let me start with this qualifier: I may not be the right consultant for you. I am honored and, after 7 years of being a consultant, still flattered to be asked nearly every …
How to Look at Pledges in a New Light
by Barbara Barron | Posted March 13th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter It’s that time of year when you may be looking at a batch of outstanding pledges. Whether they are to the Annual Fund or are campaign installments due now, it’s time to send a reminder. Many of us don’t love pledge reminders. In fact, we may even …
Does It Matter What Your Meeting Space Looks Like?
by Barbara Barron | Posted February 28th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter Here’s a true story of two solicitation meetings, where space may have played a key role in the outcomes. Tale #1: Many years ago, when I was a DoD, I was working hard to secure a significant gift from a wealthy and newly engaged family. The Head …
Top 10 Things Great Schools Do in Advancement
by Barbara Barron | Posted February 14th, 2024 | Subscribe to this newsletter There is no end to the lists of “best practices” we might create to guide our work in independent school advancement. My view is that real advancement lives both inside and outside the development office door. I take a broader view, including lots of people. Here’s my …
How to Design a Major Gifts Program That Works
A good major gift program is well designed. It has a short list of needed projects that, generally, have the winning appeal of being tangible, immediate, and high impact. This is the magical trifecta in fundraising!