The drop-in-artist: strengthen relationships with donors. (Champions of Philanthropy).Editor's Note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : The NonProfit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. Times will be serializing Todd Baker's new book Champions of Philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. This is the second installment. Mike Nelis, one of our most courageous champions, is also known to many as the "Drop-In-Artist." Armed only with his brave heart, road map, and some key information about particular donors, Mike embarks on any given day to go with the flow. He plans his day with a simple but effective strategy--be with donors. Often, he will pull up to a donor's house. The person will be outside in their front yard, weeding a flower bed or washing their car. He just begins to engage them into conversation. "Hi, I'm Mike Nelis and I work for the charity you support. I was in your neighborhood and thought I would drop by and say thank you for all that you do." It's not uncommon for Mike to change a light bulb bulb, thickened, fleshy plant bud, usually formed under the surface of the soil, which carries the plant over from one blooming season to another. It may have many fleshy layers (as in the onion and hyacinth) or thin dry scales (as in some lilies)—both of which or two, move some furniture, quiet a squeaky squeak·y adj. squeak·i·er, squeak·i·est 1. Characterized by squeaking tones: a squeaky voice. 2. Tending to squeak: squeaky shoes. door, or listen to a lonely person's story. Most often, Mike will end up eating several times during the day because donors invited him in and want to "break bread" with him. Here is a rule of thumb for you, if you share dinner with a donor at their home, that is one of the most intimate things you can do. They are telling you that they want to have a relationship with you. So, Mike eats and eats and eats until it's too dark to continue. Then, he heads back home in time to have dinner with his own family. The ultimate goal for the day is to strengthen relationships with donors. Mike is a nice looking southern gentlemen and he uses all of his charm and wit to win their hearts. But, most of all, it's his deep convictions that resonates with most donors. Mike will tell you that just showing up to people's homes unannounced and uninvited un·in·vit·ed adj. Not welcome or wanted: uninvited guests. uninvited Adjective not having been asked: uninvited guests can be scary. But, this is a lost art form and that donors love it. Mike is constantly challenging and stretching himself, conquering the fear of rejection. In this modern day of sophisticated technological donor research, wealth indication analysis and contact management techniques, it all still comes down to relationships. To have good ones, you must reach beyond your comfort zone and genuinely seek them out. Becoming a Drop-In-Artist is one of the fastest ways to build relationships. You must be willing to be vulnerable and honest with people and they will reciprocate re·cip·ro·cate v. re·cip·ro·cat·ed, re·cip·ro·cat·ing, re·cip·ro·cates v.tr. 1. To give or take mutually; interchange. 2. To show, feel, or give in response or return. v. . Tell them your story of how you came to work for the cause so they may be inspired to increase their involvement. Being an instrument of good promises an unpredictable and astonishing a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. seat in the orchestra of life. It always reminds us that the piece we perform is just that--only a part in an amazingly greater good at work. Pursue goodness with all that is within you and be assured its reach will transcend your mere mortal expectations. Be like Mike and take some courageous steps toward your donors. They are in fact only just people, like you and me. As Mark Twain wrote: Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. Share a story of your own at www.championsofphilanthropy.com. Find inspiration at www.actsofkindness.org Todd Baker is senior counsel, Marketing & Strategic Planning Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. , for The Domain Group. His email is: tbaker@thedomaingroup.com |
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