WWWD

I spent lunch yesterday with a colleague, chewing on a salad and the problems of a client. Naturally, we wondered: What Would Warren Do? Warren Buffet, the Big Kahuna, what would he do in this dreadful economic climate if he ran a NON-profit? Here's what he's said (albeit in another context):

“I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.” OK, he’s talking stock market, but, if your donors closed their wallets, how much money is available for your organization to meet future expenses? Do you have an endowment?

“If a business does well, the stock eventually follows.” People aren’t going to spend their hard earned dollars on a badly managed organization – at least not twice. If the development department is the main means of keeping an organization on supporters’ radar screens, it behooves every development officer to run a whiz bang shop.

“You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don't do too many things wrong.” There are plenty of things in our organizations that need to be done right. Everyone must rise to the challenge. I’d start with the Board of Directors. Every Board member should give, get and give again – you're probably way ahead of me already -- I mean contribute, fundraise and contribute. Hard choices have to be made, whether it’s taking a salary cut so everyone keeps a job or cutting a program, like Brandeis University, which voted to close their art museum,

“Your premium brand had better be delivering something special, or it's not going to get the business.” Donors and volunteers want to know their giving is making a difference. Now is the time to let your supporters know how and what you are doing. Keep them close.

Non-profits make possible and impossible possibilities reality! Do what you do better. Do more. Adjust so you make change rather than have change foisted on you.

Join colleagues on March 27th at the Unitarian Church in Evanston, IL from 12:30 - 3:30 for the Non-Profit Symposium on Fundraising in a Challenging Environment. We'll drill deeper into best practices. Registration is free (due to Public Interest Fundraising's fundraising) and guests are encouraged to attend. Call me to reserve your spot: 847/881-8033.