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Clarity Isn’t a Bonus—It’s the Work
Clarity Isn’t a Bonus—It’s the Work
Frances Roen
May 43 min read


The Right Roles at the Right Time: Building Campaign Capacity Without Over hiring
If we don’t have the capacity… What do we actually do about it?
Frances Roen
Apr 174 min read


You Can’t Grow a Campaign with Leftover Capacity
What capacity actually looks like—phase by phase—and the roles that make a campaign move.
Frances Roen
Apr 14 min read


How to Move From Feasibility Findings to Decisions (Without a Crystal Ball)
What to do with Feasibility findings and make decisions.
Frances Roen
Mar 194 min read


Part 2: How to Onboard Advisory Committee Members So They Actually Help Your Campaign
How to Onboard Advisory Committee Members
Frances Roen
Mar 54 min read


Part 1: Designing a High-Impact Advisory Committee for Your Campaign
How to build the best committees using the strengths people have to offer.
Frances Roen
Feb 123 min read


Do We Keep Going With Our Campaign Right Now?
Do We Keep Going With Our Campaign Right Now in these hard times?
Frances Roen
Feb 54 min read


Getting Your Board Ready to Be Asked (Before You Ask Them to Ask Others)
Getting Your Board Ready to Be Asked
Frances Roen
Jan 233 min read


Forecasting Pledges Before They Exist: A Simple Framework for Campaign Cash Flow
If you’ve ever had a CFO pop into your office (or Zoom) and say: “Quick question… when will the money from this campaign actually come in?” …you probably felt a small wave of panic. Not because it’s a bad question. It’s a great question. It’s just that most fundraisers live in the gray and nuance of: “likely but not yet committed,” “they said they’re very interested,” “we’re waiting for their board to meet,” …while finance lives in the black-and-white world o
Frances Roen
Dec 18, 20253 min read


Your First Five Gifts: Why They Matter More Than the Next Fifty
Early campaign gifts don’t just fund your project — they define its spirit. Discover why the first five gifts matter more than the next fifty.
Frances Roen
Oct 17, 20253 min read


The Real Cost of Hiring the Wrong Consultant (or None at All)
Examples of who to hire as a consultant and why.
Frances Roen
Oct 9, 20253 min read


Don’t Wait: How to Engage Your Board *Before* a Capital Campaign Launches
The strongest campaigns start with thoughtful pre-planning, where board members are brought in early and often.
Frances Roen
Oct 2, 20253 min read


Developing Leads Throughout the Life of a Campaign
When a campaign begins, most organizations focus on the donors they already know can make a major gift. That’s natural—you need to test...
Frances Roen
Sep 19, 20252 min read


Part 2: What Non-Profit Leaders Need to Know as Congress Returns
What To Expect as Congress Reconvenes: Funding Decisions and Their Impact

Michael
Sep 11, 20253 min read


Part 1: What Non-Profit Leaders Need to Know as Congress Returns
What To Expect as Congress Reconvenes: Funding Decisions and Their Impact

Michael
Sep 4, 20253 min read


You've Had A Viral Fundraising Campaign. Now What?
You've had a viral moment. Your board is asking you to repeat it. Here's how to set expectations with your board, your executive director, and your fundraising department after you've gone viral.
danaehudson
Jul 3, 20253 min read


Sleeper Gifts and Bon Jovi: Why Campaigns Can’t Be Built on a Prayer
Campaigns, like real-world change, require more than “thoughts and prayers.” As much as I love Bon Jovi (and I do), we can't build a fundraising campaign on the expectation of a miracle gift.
Frances Roen
May 30, 20252 min read


Mastering Capital Campaigns: Sidestepping Common Mistakes
What are the most common mistakes around capital campaigns? We have listed them here and ways to avoid them.

Francie Nelson
Apr 14, 20253 min read


Capital Campaigns in a Down Economy: Readiness Matters More Than Ever
A tough economy is not the time to gamble on shaky readiness for a capital campaign. Here's how to invest in your fundraising infrastructure
Frances Roen
Apr 9, 20252 min read


Capital Campaign Costs vs. Project Costs: Budgeting for Success
Embarking on a campaign, the excitement is often centered on the project, but if you don’t budget for the campaign itself, you risk failure.
Frances Roen
Mar 3, 20254 min read
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