About Fundraising: The Podcast

Strategic planning serves as an indispensable framework for nonprofit organizations, acting as a roadmap that guides decision-making regarding programming, funding, and staffing. Throughout this discourse, we elucidate the multifaceted nature of strategic planning, addressing common misconceptions and the reasons why such processes often elicit disinterest or overwhelm among stakeholders. We present a comprehensive overview of five distinct models of strategic planning, each tailored to various organizational contexts and challenges. Furthermore, we delve into the critical factors that must be considered when embarking on a new strategic plan, including the importance of stakeholder engagement and the necessity for board commitment. Ultimately, we underscore the value of hiring a consultant to facilitate this intricate process, ensuring the organization not only formulates a plan but also effectively implements it in alignment with its mission and objectives. Diana Marquis imparts invaluable insights into the realm of strategic planning for nonprofit organizations, elucidating its paramount importance as a guiding framework for achieving organizational objectives. The conversation reveals the common pitfalls that organizations encounter when embarking on the strategic planning journey, particularly the pervasive skepticism that surrounds the efficacy of such plans. Marquis articulates that this skepticism often stems from a lack of familiarity with the process and the disheartening experiences of stakeholders who have previously witnessed strategic initiatives falter without yielding tangible benefits. The host delineates the strategic planning process as a collaborative endeavor that necessitates the active participation of board members, staff, and other stakeholders. By emphasizing the collective nature of this undertaking, Marquis highlights the need for organizations to foster a culture of engagement and accountability, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the planning stages. The discussion further explores various models of strategic planning, each suited to different organizational contexts, and encourages leaders to adopt the model that best aligns with their current circumstances and future aspirations. Marquis also underscores the critical role of preparation in strategic planning, advocating for thorough assessments of past planning efforts and a clear understanding of the organization's readiness to undertake new initiatives. She posits that the development of a robust strategic plan requires dedication, time, and a realistic approach to goal setting. By instilling a sense of purpose and direction, effective strategic planning can catalyze organizational growth and empower nonprofits to navigate the complexities of their environments with confidence and clarity.Takeaways:The strategic plan serves as a roadmap that guides an organization toward its future objectives.Stakeholder involvement in the strategic planning process is crucial for successful organizational outcomes.Consultants can facilitate strategic planning, allowing leaders to concentrate on the overarching strategy.A well-executed strategic plan requires commitment and thorough preparation from both board and staff.The strategic planning process typically unfolds over six months and involves multiple distinct phases.A strategic plan must be realistic and inspirational, focusing on growth and resource allocation.Links referenced in this episode:dmgroupconsulting.comcouncilofnonprofits.orgEmail: [email protected]

Prospective board members want to know what their role and responsibilities as a board member of your organization will be. They want to know who you serve and what the challenges and successes are. They want to know the history. They want to feel passionate about the mission they are being asked to support.Board Members Are VolunteersThe people who serve on boards of directors of nonprofit organizations are volunteers. They serve for many reasons. Some feel an obligation to give back to the community, some are required to volunteer by their employer, some have the luxury of performing unpaid volunteer work. There are as many reasons as there are volunteers.Board members usually serve limited terms so there is always a need to recruit new board members. Finding, recruiting, and keeping these volunteers engaged is a challenge for many boards of directors.Why is this?Orientation for New Board MembersThe first reason I will offer is that current board members were not informed of their duties and obligations when they first joined. There was no orientation or it was limited to a high-level overview.I’ve worked with organizations with very formal nominations committees and procedures and I’ve worked with organizations on the other end of the spectrum, where new board members were added to the board throughout the year with little or no preparation, just to fill an empty seat.TipsSome tips are listed below to help guide a board’s nominations committee:Read the bylaws. They should state the responsibility of the nominations committee, the minimum and maximum number of board members, and when a slate of new directors and officers should be presented for a vote.The nominations committee may be called something else, but the duties remain the same; identifying, recruiting, and vetting potential board members. Nominations may be a standing committee or an ad hoc one, appointed by the board chair as needed.Assess the current board. Where are the gaps? Does the board need an attorney, a real estate specialist, a banker, or a community member? Use this information to guide your recruitment and avoid bringing on someone who will “just fill a seat.”Who are the donors and volunteers who have these attributes? Friends and colleagues are also a good source of potential board members but also identify those individuals outside your personal network. A good mix of different points of view can energizer a board.Recruit committee members. They can become board members later.

A football coach helps each player discover their strengths and hone their skills to play the best game possible. A professional coach does the same thing. They help you build your professional skills in order to improve your workplace performance. Coaching is a goal-oriented, structured partnership focused on developing professional skills.The C-SuiteBack in the day, this level of professional support was for the C-suite executives. Now it’s much more accessible for directors and managers. I strongly encourage nonprofit leaders to invest in professional development for their team. I also encourage my clients to serve as coaches and/or mentors to their staff.GoalsWhat you get out of a coaching relationship depends on what you invest in the process. What are your goals? Are they specific to your current position or a longer view of your career path? It could be both. We know that development professionals change jobs every couple of years because of limited promotion opportunities and salary increases within small to mid-size nonprofits. When I led my teams at different organizations, I kept this in mind and told each person that I was there to support their goals and their ambitions. Success at your current job prepares you for your next one.Invest in YourselfWhen interviewing for a position, ask about the budget for professional development. If professional development opportunities are not offered at your current position, ask for them. Sometimes, you have to invest in yourself. Early in my career, this was not obvious to me. If my employer would not or could not pay for my AFP membership or program meetings, then I did not participate. Then a colleague told me she paid for her own membership and paid for her CFRE recertifications because she didn’t want to be denied professional growth. It clicked; I had to be the one in control of my own career growth. Mentoring, coaching, networking, professional conferences, workshops, and certifications have all helped me grow and establish myself as a professional fundraiser, a coach, and a consultant. Whether it’s a coach, a mentor, or an accountability buddy, we all need someone we can trust, someone who will listen. A coach is not a therapist, but a coach can help you reach your goals. Let me know if coaching is something I can help you with. I’m also available to facilitate peer group sessions.At DMGroupConsulting, our goal is to help you achieve your goals. Click here to schedule a free half-hour conversation: ⁠https://dmgroupconsulting.com/contact/

What is the most important thing a grant writer can do? Listen to About Fundraising: The podcast to find out.For more fundraising resources and ways to work with Diana, please visit:https://dmgroupconsulting.com

Here’s the bottom line, you need clean data. Collecting, processing, and analyzing data helps your nonprofit organization fulfill its mission and serve the community. We will connect the dots between data and compelling storytelling about your mission.For more fundraising resources and ways to work with Diana, please visit:https://dmgroupconsulting.com

Summer + Plan = Successful Fundraising. When do you work on your annual fundraising plan? We will talk about why the summer is the best time and what you can do now to be ready to create a successful annual campaign for the remainder of this year and the beginning of the next.

Does your organization have a strategic plan? These plans have a bad reputation because no one uses them. It’s what you “should” have. In this episode, we break down the who, why, and how of a strategic plan. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just clearly written, and shared responsibility by all stakeholders.

As we wrap up 2025 and look forward to 2026, it seems right to look back at what we accomplished and learned both with the podcast, my business, and community volunteer.My guests covered a lot of ground and shared with us incredible insights into what to consider within the industry this year and the people moving the industry forward in North Texas.Eliza Solender on real estate for nonprofits. Steve Latham on gifts from assets rather than cash, Ty Wilson on the global impact of giving circles, Greg Warner, and founder of MarketSmart, on technology and fundraising.We also had guests who brought a different perspective to table, like Michelle Monse and her work with donors and nonprofits in rural West Texas; and Alicia Peoples and Diana Hoyt who both shared their creative passions outside of fundraising.About Fundraising: The Podcast continues to evolve and in 2026 you will hear more solo episodes about challenges we all deal with as fundraisers. If you have a suggestion for 2026 or would like to work with my team, please visit https://dmgroupconsulting.com/CHAPTERS:01:29 – Steve Latham, founder of DonateStock. Donations from assets are 30% greater than cash gifts.02:12 – Invited by Wendolyn Abel, VP of Grants Ministry, to be a guest speaker at The Gathering, presented by Texas Methodist Foundation.04:50 – Greg Warner, founder of MarketSmart, technology and the nonprofit sector06:31 – End-of-Year fundraising 3-part solo episodes07:07 – Share your favorite episode08:25 – Inspiration to colleagues and successful work for clients09:20 – Sneak peek at 2026

 Ty Wilson with Philanthropy Together shares the latest trend in fundraising and philanthropy: Giving Circles. Learn how your nonprofit can benefit from the collective generosity women, youth, and men who pool their money for greater impact. Ty believes that everyone is a philanthropist, you just have to show up and do good.

3-part series on End of Year Fundraising SuccessEpisode 3: There’s more than one way to thank donorsDonations should be acknowledged within 72 hours, or 3 days, of receipt. Thanking donors is another opportunity to engage board members, other volunteers and staff. Thank you emails are standard but phone calls and handwritten notes are the exception. Authentic gratitude keeps donors giving.

3-part series on End of Year Fundraising SuccessEpisode 2: Making the Ask is a team effort Board members, other volunteers, and staff can all be involved in the End-of-Year appeal. Peer-to-peer fundraising is very effective. Remind donors to take advantage of their employer’s charitable matching gift program and compose letters and emails that appeal to each segment of donors.

3-part series on End of Year Fundraising SuccessEpisode 1: Prep work for End-of-Year AppealStart with a compelling message for each segment of your donors, set a realistic goal, and give your donors options to support your mission. Carefully use client stories in your appeal, use donations history to set your goal, and offer the options of monthly giving or donating stock to support your organization.

Two-thirds of the state of Texas has fewer elected representatives than any major city in the state. Find out what that imbalance means to your community. And, the second half of my conversation with Michelle Monse, former CEO of the King Foundation, gives us an inside look at family foundations.

Karen White Hughes, CEO of the Texas Women’s Foundation, and I will talk about the power of women in philanthropy, the recent study on the wage gap in the U.S. and how the next generation of young women are giving back.

Greg Warner developed the DAF widget and other tools to help nonprofit organizations "remove the friction" for their donors. He is also the author of "Engagement Fundraising" and creator of the Fundraising Report Card. Join us for an interesting conversation about wealth, philanthropy, and donor engagement.

Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew is the President and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy providing philanthropic guidance, community engagement strategies, leadership development, and organizational culture support for companies and nonprofits. Our conversation covers leadership development, CFRE, and a preview of her new book, "Front Porch Wisdom."

Juliette Coulter and Rhonda Aghamalian, two of Dallas' best PR professionals join host, Diana Marquis in a  conversation about the relationship between communications and fund raising. They answer questions like, how to tell your story, who's your audience and why Marcom is important. 

Eliza Solender is a nationally recognized authority on nonprofit and small business real estate issues. As President of Solender/Hall, Inc., she has worked with hundreds of nonprofit organizations and small businesses to help them achieve their real estate visions.

Guests on the next podcast episode are Alicia Peoples and Diana Hoyt. Two fundraisers who are also doing what they love: standup comedy and creative writing. Tune in to learn more about fundraisers who do more than raise money.

Dr. Dena Jackson has a wide range of interests and experience. Our conversation starts with learning about consultant as executive extender to asset poverty to the current state of the nonprofit sector.

Steve Latham, co-founder of DonateStock, is my guest this month. DonateStock was created to help donors give gifts of stock to their favorite charities without the hassles and delays Steve experienced when he tried to give stock to a scholarship fund. Listen in to learn how you can support your favorite nonprofit and how nonprofits can increase their donations with gifts of stock.

Harriet Boorhem, PhD, author, leadership consultant, and therapist has studied and taught leadership development. She has strong opinions and is not shy about sharing them. My conversation with Harriet will give you some insight into the difference between a good leader and a great one. 

Our guest for December’s podcast is a person I’ve long admired as I’ve watched her grow her career from a grant writer to Vice President of Grants Ministry for the Texas Methodist Foundation. Wendy Abel and I will talk about all things grant related from her number one tip: “read the directions,” to her personal journey as a nonprofit professional.

Our guest for November is a person who is a leader in the nonprofit sector, and entrepreneur, a mentor, and a good friend: Roslynn Dawson Thompson. Some of you may remember her as the CEO of the Texas Women’s Foundation. She retired from that position after serving 11 years. She now is running a consulting business and serving on the board of the Tides Foundation, a community foundation with a national reach. Roslyn and I will talk about women as leaders, advice for people who have recently started their careers, and what comes after your first or second career.

Lisa Chimola, Chair of the AFP Global Government Affairs committee, and I will talk about the difference between lobbying and advocacy work; the Charitable Act, and how staff and board members can effectively speak up for their agency and their cause.

Michael is a certified professional coach, with 100+ hours of coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluation under his belt. Join us to find out how working with a professional coach can boost your career.

Customer experience (CX) and donor relations have a lot in common. Please enjoy our conversation with Lis Hubert and Diana Sonis, founders of CX by Design.

This month’s guest is Danika Mendrygal an attorney who specializes in nonprofit governance and tax law. She started her own firm, Mendrygal Law in 2015 after spending 12 years with a nationally recognized firm in Dallas. Danika’s firm specializes in nonprofit governance and tax law, and we all need to know more about that.

Listen to "About Fundraising: The Podcast" and get some great, useful advice on how to get the most from your nonprofit board of directors. Does each board member have an individual board engagement plan? What are the pros and cons of board term limits? We talk about all that and more in this episode with Ben Mohler, ACFRE.

Keisha Whaley is an entrepreneurial creator. She is a business person, a mentor and a teacher. She’s joining me on “About Fundraising: The Podcast” to put her knowledge in the nonprofit frame and help us market our nonprofit organizations.Use the following link to register for the DFW Philanthropy Conference where I'll be speaking about ethics & fundraising.https://www.dfwphilanthropyconference.com

Harriet Boorhem, PhD, author, leadership consultant, and therapist has studied and taught leadership development. She has strong opinions and is not shy about sharing them. My conversation with Harriet will give you some insight into the difference between a good leader and a great one. Use the following link to register for the DFW Philanthropy Conference where I'll be speaking about ethics & fundraising. https://www.dfwphilanthropyconference.com/

Thank you for listening to About Fundraising: The Podcast