Hi Reader, Are your people last-minute givers?12% of all giving occurs in the final week of the year, with donations made on December 31 online accounting for 5% of total online revenue (according to the M+R Benchmarks report).With one week left to the year, the good news is that the best is yet to come.The not-so-good news is that that's true for every nonprofit. So, Reader, how will you stand out? If you know me, you know my answer is clear messaging.When you lead with clear messaging, you...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I know this is a tough time of year for many in our sector. Giving season can feel like an exhausting marathon, with so much that needs to go well before getting to the finish line. I've worked for nonprofits my entire career, and what I love most is that even when it's hard, we each have our own mission-driven why that keeps us going. It reminds us why we do what we do and brightens dark times—for ourselves and for others. Next week is Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. And as I...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, If you're working hard today, it may be because GivingTuesday is in less than a week and year-end campaigns are coming, and as many are shutting down for the long weekend, your work is ramping up. If that's you,Reader, I've been there, and I see you. And I'm not the only one. I recently spoke with someone who has been both a board member and major donor of several organizations. He told me he hates it when nonprofits say 'we have no overhead.' "I tell people I won't support an...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Sometimes our content should be serious—especially when the world feels heavy.Sometimes, a little levity goes a long way—especially when the world feels heavy.When I write a messaging guide for a nonprofit, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle is voice and tone.Your voice is your organization’s personality.Your tone is your organization’s mood.Like a person, your organization has one core personality—but your tone should shift depending on the moment. Here's a great...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, When I first launched Voice for Good, I worried about losing my colleagues. Who would I bounce ideas off of? Who would know the things I don't? Reader, you know it can be lonely when you're the only one in your role, which is why it's important to have the right people around you. My business is just me—which works for my clients and for me—but I've made an effort to get to know other consultants who can share wisdom, expertise, and knowledge. So as we near the end of October and...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, As October moves along, I know your focus is already turning toward year-end. There’s a lot in your head and your heart—year-end appeals, GivingTuesday plans, and donor conversations—alongside the day-to-day work of leading your organization and against the backdrop of a roller-coaster year. Before you dive into your campaign draft, take a breath. This is your reminder that you don’t have to do it all or do it perfectly. But if doing it at all is weighing on you, I've got something...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Hard to believe it, but Q4 is here again. I don’t need to tell you what that means for nonprofit leaders like you. You’re carrying a lot—prepping for GivingTuesday and year-end campaigns, leading your team, showing up for your community—all against the backdrop of a world that feels especially heavy right now. And today is also the eve of Yom Kippur, a time of return, reflection, and renewal—individually and collectively. That means returning to what matters most, reflecting on...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Rosh Hashanah, the holiday marking the Jewish New Year, is coming up next week.Around this time, we share wishes for a "shana tova u'metuka," which often gets translated to a "happy and sweet new year."But the literal translation is actually a "good and sweet year."Even when things aren't always happy, we can still find the good.Good people helping other peopleGood values bringing people togetherGood causes making the world a better placeBeing good and finding good is a wish that...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, no one talks about the second day of school. The first day of school gets all the attention:The photoThe new outfit The excitementThe second day of school is just...school.But that's where the magic actually happens:The familiarizing with new spaces and routinesThe relationships that begin between teachers and studentsThe learning and growing that start to take rootReader, this time of year has me thinking a lot about our communications between major events and campaigns, when the...
4 months ago • 1 min read