

Neglecting the organization’s social media when times get busy is one of the classic mistakes made by so many nonprofits – consistent messaging is the goal. And yet here I am, having given that advice before, now a full month behind on my own firm’s...

Too Risk-Adverse To Fail (Nonprofit Edition)
by Josh Jacobson “Eight out of 10 businesses fail. Are you sure you want to do this?” Not exactly the sort of thing you want to hear when you’re contemplating launching a new business. Now almost three months into my own new consulting venture (76 days to be exact,...

10 Things Every Early Career Fundraiser Should Know
by Josh Jacobson Early in my career as a development professional, I must have made hundreds of mistakes. Some were fairly minor, others somewhat more substantial, and some… well, let’s not go stirring up things better left in the past, shall we? I certainly learned...

The Oscars: Storytelling Wins Every Time
by Josh Jacobson The 86th Academy Awards are this coming Sunday, and my wife and I simply ran out of time. Each year since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expanded the roster of Best Picture nominees from five to 10 in 2009, we make our best effort to...

“They Have a Basketball Court?” – Red Ventures & How Data Can Transform Nonprofits
By Josh Jacobson Though it has been in business since 2000, I hadn’t heard of Red Ventures until just a few years ago. And even then, what I knew was somewhat fuzzy. Most folks talk about the amazing headquarters located in Fort Mill, South Carolina – a...

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah: The Beatles and Youth Marketing for Nonprofits
by Josh Jacobson For real fans, February 9 is one of many dates in the history of Beatles that is etched into memory. As you have no doubt heard at some point this past weekend, it was this day in 1964, fifty years ago, that the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan show. ...