Issue 30: What Is A Leader?

I watched the docu-series “Welcome to Wexhram” last night after decompressing from a busy day at a conference that I’ll discuss below.

One of the reasons I turned on the pilot was to understand why Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney wanted to buy the historic soccer (football) club in the first place and it was something that Rob said that really struck a cord with me.

He explained how he grew up in a working-class family and that watching the Philadelphia Eagles was a form of escape for him. Yet, when the Eagles won the Super Bowl a few years ago, he described it as one of the top moments of his life.

It wasn't because of the win but how it made him feel. The line he said that really struck a cord was that a sports team is an extension of a city’s identity. When that community is strong, people feel connected regardless of a win or loss. They feel connected and bond through shared experiences.?

There’s a lot to unpack, but this week, we’re primarily discussing leadership. Let’s dive in.

Generosity in Action

What makes a good leader?

That’s a question I’ve been pondering the last few days as I attend the Association of Leadership Programs national conference in Providence, RI.?

Going into this conference, I had a high-level idea of what makes a Community Leadership Program different from other nonprofits and associations I’ve worked with, but spending time with different affiliates this week has taught me that there’s so much more going on in our communities than I realized.

Leadership programs work differently across different localities but ultimately try to focus on offering programs that help teach what leadership looks like.?

Per their website, ALP is active in 45 of the contiguous states, including an international presence in Canada, Australia and Germany.? With over 300 members, ALP is THE connection source for community leadership programs. Our membership is open to leadership organizations/programs, whether based in a chamber of commerce, university, government or similar entity, or as an independent (non-profit) organization.

If you haven’t checked out their work, I highly recommend it:

Tips & Tricks

I’m focusing this week on the role of data in building confidence in your decisions and wanted to draw out some insights from an article the Neon One team wrote about donr databases.?

The goal of donor database management is to maintain accurate records within your nonprofit’s system—whether that system is a simple Google Sheet or a full-fledged donor management platform—so that you can more closely tailor your messages, appeals, and donor engagement strategies.

Effective data collection involves gathering a variety of data points that, together, add up to a comprehensive view of each donor. Data collection is also the first step of effective donor database management.?

Really, it’s right there in the name: You can’t manage a database without any data! Essential data your nonprofit should be collecting in your donor profiles includes:

• Contact Information: Names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses are fundamental for maintaining communication with donors.
• Donation History: Records of donation amounts, dates, and associated campaigns help track donor generosity and identify giving patterns.
• Engagement Metrics: Information about participation in events, volunteer activities, and interaction history provides insight into donor involvement beyond financial contributions.
• Demographic Information: Details such as age, gender, location, and occupation assist in segmenting and targeting communications effectively.
• Communication Preferences: Knowing preferred channels (email, phone, mail) and frequency of contact ensures that outreach aligns with donor preferences.
• Notes on Interactions: Personal notes and preferences add a personalized touch to donor management, making interactions more meaningful.

So, how are you going to collect all this information? The primary way will be through your donation forms, which are essential for capturing contact and donation information efficiently. They should be easy to use and accessible from any device.

Neon CRM’s donation form builder has best practices built in and lets you create an unlimited number of forms. To see the form builder in action, take the tour below!?

Beyond online forms, you can also collect feedback and preferences through donor surveys, which allow you to get more specific with the questions you’re asking, a specificity that will allow you to gain valuable insights into donor interests and satisfaction.

Tracking participation in events helps monitor engagement and gather additional contact information. Monitoring interactions on social media can reveal more about donor interests and engagement levels.

Finally, recording notes on personal interactions that you’ve had with donors will really help you go above and beyond to create meaningful relationships with your supporters. These notes will be an especially important tool for communicating with your major donors.?

Data Dive

Since we’re touching on leadership, I wanted to resurface the research that Evan Wildstein and Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE , published earlier this year. The research focused on where nonprofit leaders are in their professional journey. It is a stark reminder that we have a long way to go in addressing the core needs of nonprofit professionals in supporting the work that our communities rely on.?

Community Spotlight

Ultimately my job is to help support the growth of our company, which means that we do want people to invest into the technology that we’ve created.?

Yet, there is still this weird balance between wanting to legit have a conversation with people about their problems and coming off like I’m just trying to pitch people something. I have worked really hard to actually listen instead of waiting for my turn to insert the next “addressing sales obstacle” talking point.?

But I am proud of the work that we do and that’s why I’m thrilled at the new video that our product marketing team has worked so hard on to help tell that story. Much of this is driven by the real world feedback we’re hearing from folks like you on what technology’s role should be in your life.?

Take a listen:

Upcoming Events

The big one is coming - keep your eyes peeled for Generosity Xchange registration to officially open up next week. We have some amazing sessions planned, with Cherian Koshy , Genevieve Smith , Olga Moshinsky Woltman, MS , Michelle Shireen Muri , Mide Akerewusi, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Econ), CSR-P, CDEP. , and many more joining us on October 16 and 17.?

After five years, we’re making some big changes to the event. Can’t wait to show you what we have in store. And I just got word that our VIP swag boxes are almost ready! I co-designed the box with Olga and we created some awesome stickers just for the event.

Nonprofit Tech Circle: Event Registration Pages

August 7, 2024 | 1 PM ET

So many details go into creating an amazing event experience for your supporters. You’ve thought through the venue, the program, maybe even the catering—but what about the actual registration page? Join Abby Jarvis for this session on to discover pointers for creating a great event registration page!?

Register

Brandfluence 2024

August 21, 2024 | 12:00 PM ET

Join us for the first of its kind one-day summit designed exclusively for nonprofits and social impact businesses. Empower your brand to raise more money and drive more meaningful change in your communities. Thrilled to be working with Taylor Shanklin on this one.

Register

Building One Team: Community Ambassador Program Design

August 23, 2024 | 1 PM ET

Join me for our interactive live coaching workshop designed to educate nonprofits on building a successful Community Ambassador Program. Learn how to attract, recruit, and assess highly engaged volunteers who will passionately advocate for your mission and help unify your team of supporters, staff, and technology.

Register

Monthly Giving Summit

September 5-6, 2024? 1:00 PM ET

Join Dana Snyder as she puts on THE virtual event experience dedicated to helping nonprofits build subscriptions for good. Thrilled to be working with Dana Snyder for this one.

Register

Final Thoughts

Leadership isn’t about telling people what to do, it isn’t about bullying them into buying into your vision, and it certainly has nothing to do with titles.

Leadership is about building space where others can thrive. It is about charting a vision that is collaborative in nature and pulls on the strengths of everyone on the team. And the best leaders give credit where its due but own the collective failures. The buck stops here.

Leaders aren’t always the ones on the stage. In many cases, they are the quiet ones who are getting shit done.?

Ultimately, leadership isn’t about what you say but more about what you do.?

How will you be a leader today??

Puzzle of the Week

Did you know that LinkedIn has games? I didn’t know that until this week! Check out what they have at this link! Weirdly they don't allow their own URL to be embedded, their loss!

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