In a few days, I get on a plane to go to my daughter's home in Wisconsin.  I'm excited to see her, my 11-year old grandson, Cole,  and (at that time) week and a half old twin grandchildren.  A boy and a girl.  They are the result of big thinking by their daddy. Ok, more than just thinking, but you get the picture.

   Jesse-the twins' dad-really, really wanted kids.  He is a great stepdad, but he actually wanted to experience babies, toddlers, the whole nine yards.  My daughter was less sure, but said, "OK, one (that's in bolded, capital letters)."  Jesse said, "Tell you what-let's have twins; a boy and a girl."

   And a little over nine months later, welcome Skylar and Dominic. 

I'm not (necessarily) writing about this (just) because I'm a proud granny. More, it is because it shows how big ideas bring big results.

   Thinking big-thinking outside of that proverbial box-is really important when you are talking with potential donors.  Yes, fundraising is about relationships; it is about consistency, and it is about plugging into passion.  Above all, it is about showing donors how they can make a difference.  Big ideas really do help to show how their generosity makes a difference.

   If I have a real complaint about many nonprofits, it is the smallness of their thinking. Yes, we do accomplish more with less, but that is not necessarily a virtue.  Having more will allow you to get that much more done.  And that helps many, many more people.

   Start by thinking big.  Really big.  What would it be like to have twice as much operating funds?  An endowment that actually kicked off enough to fully fund a program every single year?  Enough money to hire the staff you need, get the technology you want, keep your fees affordable for everyone?

   Then think about what it will take to get there?  Maybe not this year; maybe not even next year or the one after that.  But move the needle a little bit this year; and then move it a little more next.

   When I was a kid, my parents used to put $2 a month into a savings account for me and my sister.  It was to be our college funds.  It was our college funds. Two dollars was worth more then, and savings accounts actually earned a reasonable amount of interest.  But what really appealed to me was the magic of compound interest. At the end of the first year, there was $24 in the account.  That earned, say, 4% interest.  So now there was $24.96 in the account.  They added $24 the next year, and 4% was earned on $48.96.  And now we had $50.92.  In five years, the account grew to $197.14.  In 10 years, it was up to $375.05.

   Millions would not be made at $2 a month, but the growth really was extraordinary.  And, as they earned more, the $2 per month grew-which meant that the principal continued to grow even faster.

   In addition to learning about the magic of compounding, I learned the reality that the more you invest, the bigger your growth. 

Invest in big ideas and vast dreams.  Share those ideas with your prospects and donors.  As them to invest with you to implement those ideas and create reality from those dreams.

   You will still be a nonprofit organization but you will be awash with possibilities-and the funding to make them come true.

As usual, my colleague and friend, Bo Morton, offers her best Twitter picks of the month.  Then learn all about the importance of Intentional Fundraising and the secrets of Getting Clients and Donors. 

    **************  

 Need help in increasing your fundraising capacity or getting your Board to participate?  

Help is here.  Email me or call 310-990-9151.

• Are your fundraising results down?
•  Board members bored?  
• Are you thinking about a campaign? 
• Or perhaps you need individual fundraising coaching!

Whatever your capacity building needs, Janet Levine Consulting can help.

  

 Send me an email or give me a call at 310-990-9151 to schedule a free 30-minute consultation. 

I look forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,

 Janet