This past Saturday, I had the privilege of working with the Executive Director and the Board of DRU/Mondawmin Healthy Families Inc. ("DRUM") in Baltimore.  They are a growing organization, seeking to diversify their revenue streams and I have been working with them on developing a fundraising plan.

Saturday, we held a Board-Only session, that included discussions around:

• Drafting a Case for Support and creating a Fundraising Tool Kit
• The process of engaging individuals and other organizations
  
• The Board's role in fundraising 
• Creating a "menu" of ways the Board can help with fundraising
• Setting give/get expectations for Board members, which is included in the Board job description
• The infrastructure needed for fundraising (donor database, donor record-keeping, etc.)
  
• How communciations goes hand-in-hand with a fundraising program

These are just a few topics we covered in a very productive session on Saturday.  I am excited and proud to be a part of the transformation at DRUM and to be working with the dedicated members of their Baord and staff.

Details Strategic Advisors LLC can also help your organization "turn the corner" toward it's next growth and development phase.  Check us out at www.DetailsStrategicAdvisors.com.

People never ask why they need a plumber or a dentist, but they often ask why they need an event planner.  We're just party planners after all, right???  WRONG!!  

The U.S. Department of Labor classifies this occupation under the title of Meeting and Convention Planners. and  introduces the nature of this work as follows:

Meeting, convention, and event planners work to ensure that this purpose is achieved efficiently and seamlessly. They coordinate every detail of events, from beginning to end. Before a meeting, for example, planners will meet with clients to estimate attendance and determine the meeting’s purpose. During the meeting, they handle meeting logistics, such as registering guests and organizing audio/visual equipment for speakers. After the meeting, they may survey attendees to find out how the event was received.

The event planner creates programs that address the purpose, message or impression that their organization or client is trying to communicate. Event planners work long and non-traditional hours to plan and execute all details related to a variety of event formats including seminars, conferences, conventions and trade shows; charity galas; luncheons and dinners; executive retreats;  trips and travel; golf tournaments; walks/runs and other programs.
 
Successful event planners will have the following skills:
·         Verbal and written communications
·         Organization and time management
·         Project management and multitasking
·         Self-starter and team player
·         Understand Microsoft Office applications
·         Detail and deadline-oriented
·         Negotiation
·         Budget management
·         Staff management
·         Marketing and public relations
·         Interpersonal skills with all levels of management
·         Problem solving while under pressure
·         Ability to visualize attendee flow/experience and event set-up well in advance of the event.

 Successful event planners will develop the following knowledge:
       Venue selection; Catering; Production; Entertainment; Awards/Gifts; Transportation; Lodging; 
       List Management; Logistics Planning

 Additionally, many Event Planners have invested in certifications.  The education required to receive a certification is specifically geared toward planning events and meetings covering everything from room set-up, crowd capacity, ADA requirements and contract language.  These designations can be quite costly; require an acquisition of skills that usually take several years to achieve; and take time to study for.  A planner with a designation means the planner is a professional and is dedicated to their profession.  

The most common certifications are:

·         CMP - Certified Meeting Planner - Issued by the Convention Industry Council                  
·         CMM - Certified Meeting Manager - Issued by the Meeting Professionals International
·         CSEP  - Certified Special Events Professional - Issued by International Special Events Society

 So the when you have a leaky pipe call a plumber, when you have a toothache see your dentist and when you have an event or meeting, hire a professional planner!

People never ask why they need a plumber or a dentist, but they often ask why they need an event planner.  We're just party planners after all, right???  WRONG!! 

The U.S. Department of Labor classifies this occupation under the title of Meeting and Convention Planners. and  introduces the nature of this work as follows:

Meeting, convention, and event planners work to ensure that this purpose is achieved efficiently and seamlessly. They coordinate every detail of events, from beginning to end. Before a meeting, for example, planners will meet with clients to estimate attendance and determine the meeting’s purpose. During the meeting, they handle meeting logistics, such as registering guests and organizing audio/visual equipment for speakers. After the meeting, they may survey attendees to find out how the event was received.

The event planner creates programs that address the purpose, message or impression that their organization or client is trying to communicate. Event planners work long and non-traditional hours to plan and execute all details related to a variety of event formats including seminars, conferences, conventions and trade shows; charity galas; luncheons and dinners; executive retreats;  trips and travel; golf tournaments; walks/runs and other programs.
 
Successful event planners will have the following skills:
·         Verbal and written communications
·         Organization and time management
·         Project management and multitasking
·         Self-starter and team player
·         Understand Microsoft Office applications
·         Detail and deadline-oriented
·         Negotiation
·         Budget management
·         Staff management
·         Marketing and public relations
·         Interpersonal skills with all levels of management
·         Problem solving while under pressure
·         Ability to visualize attendee flow/experience and event set-up well in advance of the event.

 Successful event planners will develop the following knowledge:
       Venue selection; Catering; Production; Entertainment; Awards/Gifts; Transportation; Lodging; 
       List Management; Logistics Planning

 Additionally, many Event Planners have invested in certifications.  The education required to receive a certification is specifically geared toward planning events and meetings covering everything from room set-up, crowd capacity, ADA requirements and contract language.  These designations can be quite costly; require an acquisition of skills that usually take several years to achieve; and take time to study for.  A planner with a designation means the planner is a professional and is dedicated to their profession.  

The most common certifications are:

·         CMP - Certified Meeting Planner - Issued by the Convention Industry Council                  
·         CMM - Certified Meeting Manager - Issued by the Meeting Professionals International
·         CSEP  - Certified Special Events Professional - Issued by International Special Events Society

 So the when you have a leaky pipe call a plumber, when you have a toothache see your dentist and when you have an event or meeting, hire a professional planner!

Last week a fire started in a house down the block from mine.  An DCFD engine company, a rescue squad, and an DC EMS ambulance all came.  My brother is a fireman in NYC.  He is with a rescue squad, so seeing any fire/rescue responders immediately brings my brother to mind as well as all of his fire-fighting buddies that I have come to know.  (Yes he was working on 9-11, but that's another story.) The thing that will ALWAYS bewilder me about them is that they are running into the danger as we are trying to escape it.  God Bless our first responders.  We call them we when are afraid and in danger and they always answer to call.

That got me thinking....

How many nonprofits fundraising programs are "on fire" and in need of rescue?

Who do they call to rescue them?  Many will try to put the fire out themselves.  Like many of us in our homes, they will be ill-equipped and not adequately trained to put the "fire" out themselves.  How many will think they have put the fire out only to discover they missed a "hot spot?"

As a veteran in the nonprofit sector, (more than 23 years) I now know much more than I did, even 10 years ago.  Unfortunately many small and young nonprofits are relying on "rookie" fundraisers because it is the best their money can buy.  There is certainly no shame in that.  The shame comes when there a "fire" and they don't make the call for help.

Your rescue squad is all around you in the form of expert consultants.  I started working for nonprofits after volunteering.  I was in sales and marketing.  Volunteering and helping others felt so good.  I was more into my volunteer assignments than I was into my then job and it began to bleed over.  My work began to decline and I realized I needed to make a career move.  All these years later, I have become an idealist.  I totally believe in the work that nonprofits are doing for our community.  WE DO SO MUCH!!  i started consulting and I'll start teaching this spring because after 23 years I feel like I can give back to the nonprofit community... and I am not alone.

So I say to the nonprofits who are out there on fire, your rescue squads -- those of us who have grown into industry veterans, consultants, etc. -- we are out here just waiting on you to call.