Author Archives: janetlevineconsulting

About janetlevineconsulting

For over 20 years, Janet Levine has worked for and with nonprofit and educational organizations, helping to grow their advancement programs. Her consulting company, Janet Levine Consulting, serves a wide range of organizations from small, all-volunteer agencies to major national organizations. She regularly teaches courses in non-profit management, fundraising and grant development, both face-to-face and online at http://courses.lmlearningstation.com/. In addition to her nonprofit work, Janet brings years of experience as a business and sales manager in the for-profit sector. She has an MBA from the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University.

Fundraising Strategies

I was listening to Google executives touting their newest map applications.  One was proudest of the fact that maps now will be personalized to you.  He, he told the crowd, had a favorite restaurant in San Francisco.  His SF maps, … Continue reading

Posted in fundraising | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Integrated Ask

I started my fundraising career after years of being in sales.  Mostly commission-based sales.  It had been beaten into me that the first cardinal sin was to leave money on the table.  So I was confused when I heard fundraising … Continue reading

Posted in fundraising | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Accentuate the Positive

Why is it that so often we focus on the negative?  I was reading the evaluations of a workshop I recently did and most were really favorable.  But there was one—there is always one—that made me want to pack up … Continue reading

Posted in fundraising | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When I Don’t Hate Storytelling As a Fundraising Tactic

In my last blog, I took storytelling to task.  Lots of people emailed me, mostly—a bit to my surprise—agreeing completely.  Then a friend and valued colleague email to add what she called her “two cents.”  Her boss does not like … Continue reading

Posted in fundraising | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Reasons I Hate Story Telling As a Fundraising Strategy.

Over the past several years, storytelling has become the hot topic for many development offices.   Every conference I’ve been attending has some session on storytelling. Board and staff practice stories. Obsess about having stories. Worry they don’t have the right … Continue reading

Posted in fundraising | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment