Taking “Thanksgiving” for Granted?
Depending on what poll you look you at, Thanksgiving rates as Americans' second favorite holiday, albeit a distant second to Christmas.  To me, however, it’s by far my top holiday.  Maybe that’s because it’s never been compromised.  It’s as pure today as it was decades ago.    Thanksgiving is really very simple.  It’s a time for being with our inner circle—our family and closest friends.  It’s a da

A Tribute to an All-American Fundraiser
On January 3, 2010, Bruce Joyner will officially raise his last dollars as an employee for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).  Amazingly, 33 years earlier (to the day), he raised his first dollars as a professional fundraiser – that too for children suffering from cystic fibrosis.      After a long, selfless and esteemed fundraising career (all of which was at CFF), Bruce Joyner will soon begin his journey into retirement.  It will mark the

Fundraising and the Essence of TIME
  Technology … what in the world would we do without it? As fundraisers, it’s supposed to make our jobs easier. It gives us more options for communicating with our constituents and for storing more “pertinent” information on their behaviors and motivations.     The truth, however, is that technology has made our jobs much more difficult, and quite frankly, I’m not so sure it’s made our i

Fewer Gifts Expected This Holiday Season
Some of the largest U.S. charities are bracing themselves for a disappointing Christmas this year, according to a new Harris Interactive survey being released today.   The study, which was commissioned by World Vision, found that less than 40% of Americans expect to give a charitable donatio

A Name to Remember
Do you know SOFII like I know SOFII? If not, you might want to check her out.    I was first introduced to SOFII by Tony Elischer, managing director of a UK fundraising agency called Think Consulting Services.  For me, it was love at first sight.