Mel and Pearl Shaw

You cannot say thank you enough! As students head back to school, it’s time for nonprofit professionals to return to FUNdraising School. Receiving a gift – especially a major gift…

Part one of a two-part series This column is offered in honor of Black Philanthropy Month.  We are forever pushing our children to become entrepreneurs, to start and run their…

Part two of a two-part series This column is offered in honor of Black Philanthropy Month. Giving is one aspect of philanthropy. Deciding how, where, and when to give is…

Part three of a three-part series No matter how successful an HBCU president is, there will always be people who want them to do more and to do it better…

Part two of a three-part series The turnover of top leadership at our historically Black colleges and universities is often “blamed” on the president. “They didn’t deliver,” is what we…

Part one of a three-part series Running an institution of higher education is like running a multi-million dollar business. There are negotiations for property, talent, capital, innovation, partnerships, and oh…

Part three of a three-part series Nonprofits focus on making change, serving residents, healing patients, educating students, conducting research, and advocating for civil rights and liberties amongst other priorities. But…

Part two of a three-part series Many people confuse marketing and branding. Some think a logo is a brand. Not so, a logo is one manifestation of a brand. Here’s…

We hear a lot about “brand” – it is the secret sauce of marketing. It’s what differentiates your nonprofit from another. But what exactly is a brand? How does a…

Successful fundraising is about people giving to your organization. In almost all cases giving is preceded by an “ask.” Someone asks someone to make a gift. Someone says yes. That’s…