In working with some of my clients over the past year, I have to reflect on how important a culture of cooperation is to meaningful and productive implementation of any fundraising program or specific endeavor.  I think our most successful clients have thoughtful and clear processes outlined, coupled with open lines of communication between various [...]

As we wind down the year 2011, we reflect on a year of challenges, both with the economy and its affect on philanthropy.  One of the most daunting challenges our clients deal with seems to be what to do about their lapsed donors.  Lapsed donors are generally considered those who have not given a gift [...]

In a time when non-profits are tightening their belts, both with budgets and staff, it is a good time to take stock in what has been accomplished in this very tenuous year with our economy and in the world of philanthropy.  We have been dealing with many challenges, and most likely will be dealing with [...]

This morning I was on LinkedIn and a friend of mine, who works for a nonprofit in the Twin Cities area where I live, used the term “Game-Changer”, and that he wanted to be one of these game-changers for his organization.  Now this term is not officially in the Webster Dictionary, or at least I [...]

I am so excited and proud to say that NOZA is one of the products that Target Analytics offers.  I get my weekly NOZA Gift Alerts, and at that point I am reminded of the generosity and strong philanthropic tradition that exists in this country.  We are living in very economically challenging times, but it [...]

Since I started blogging about social media on this website, I am being asked by clients if there is any information about Return On Investment (ROI) in regards to the time and money that nonprofits spend utilizing social networking as a way to connect with and receive gifts from their constituents.  In my estimation it [...]

I have been wrestling with this question lately – Can we truly steward donors on Facebook?  Nothing replaces high touch communications like picking up a phone, writing a hand-written note, or more importantly face-to-face interaction.  But in a world of crazy schedules, both personally and professionally, I think we can safely say that many of [...]

There are many ways for fundraisers to stay connected with each other in the realm of social media.  I have to admit to being a PRSPCT-L junkie.  This listserv has been around keeping prospect research professionals connected way before the term “Social Media” and “Social Network” became part of the worldwide technological lexicon.  I check [...]

While I’m sitting here on a Wednesday evening looking at my LinkedIn and Facebook profiles, I’m wondering how much information really is necessary for everyone to know about me from a public perspective.  I truly have not hidden that much about myself both professionally and personally.  I’m an open book and have many interests, hobbies, [...]

First, I wish to introduce myself.  My name is Carol Belair, and I am a senior consultant located here in the lovely Minneapolis-St. Paul area.  Well maybe this winter…not so lovely.  I work with our Target Analytics clients providing consulting and training on the various solutions that they purchased from us.  Some of you may [...]