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Wherever you are, here’s hoping you’re managing to keep cool!

And I don’t mean just physically. As we begin to ramp up for the busiest part of the fundraising year — during a time of unprecedented upheaval — try to let cooler heads prevail. Hopefully, some of the wisdom you find in this newsletter will help you with great ideas to lessen your stress.

Let’s begin with this wisdom from Seth Godin:

You don’t need a better camera

“They keep getting fancier. But you would benefit from investing in better lighting instead.

It’s tempting to upgrade your computer processor, your frying pan or your sneakers as well.

The thing is, once the foundational tools are good enough, technique and training outperform hardware. New snow tires are often more effective than a new car at getting to work, because traction matters more than horsepower.

Sharpening your saw or building resilience might be the best way to improve.”

This issue of the Clairity Click-it is filled with a curated mix of ideas and resources to help you improve your technique, training, and overall approach to your work. As you peruse the available selection, I invite you to look for just one idea you might try or adapt. If something resonates, save it, make a note, and put it on your calendar so it’s there for you when the moment is right.

As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise our critically important social benefit sector.

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re already a Clairification School student, your AUGUST TIPS are live.  If you’re not yet enrolled, please consider helping me cover my costs. [This is a labor of love, but your support through enrollment is greatly appreciated!]

This very title by Maria Popova, The Marginalian, speaks to me: How We Render Reality: Attention as an Instrument of Love.

You know I talk a lot about philanthropy as a manifestation of love, right?

Popova also notes D.H. Lawrence wrote “An act of pure attention, if you are capable of it, will bring its own answer.” She means it in so many ways; I, of course, read it through the lens of a philanthropy facilitator. That’s you! One who pays quality attention to other people, leading to a relationship comprised of what you make of them and what they make of you. And how, together – with feeling — you make a meaningful whole that lights both of you up.

What might happen were you to give your donors pure attention – coming from a place of love and curiosity – rather than sticking to your script of pursuing your own agenda?

What if you were to be truly responsive to your donor, thereby nurturing their gifts – not just money, but their unique talents, interests, and passions — into being? This is how you might “feel into each other,” unconsciously using empathy to discover the true foundation of love – and philanthropy (“love of humanity”).

This issue of the Clairity Click-it has a special section on empathy. I’ve also brought together a curated mix of ideas and resources to help you invent a better future. As you read, I invite you to look for just one idea you might try or adapt. If something resonates, save it, make a note, and put it on your calendar so it’s there for you when the moment is right.

As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise our critically important social benefit sector.

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re an enrolled Clairification School student, your JULY TIPS are live.  If you’re not yet enrolled, there’s no better time.

This is a great month to do something you’re proud of. And to support others who are showing their spirit and pride. Actually, every month is good for these things!

Which, as it often does, brings me to share a bit of wisdom from the sage Seth Godin.

Doing your job vs doing your work

“If you’re not sure of the difference, you’re probably just doing your job.

Perhaps, if you’re fortunate, your job is in sync with your work.

But most of the time, our work is something we have to fight for. It’s not something we’re given, or apply for. It’s what we choose to do.

The change we seek to make, the people we seek to serve, the decisions we insist on being responsible for.

Doing our work is a calling.

Doing our job is an offer to follow someone else’s instructions.”

How do you see your work? As you navigate funding uncertainty, policy changes, economic burdens, and rapid change, what are you doing today to change tomorrow?

As we enter a big holiday weekend in the U.S., I am reminded of all who came before us. Those who fought for important human rights, who challenged the status quo, and who practiced love, empathy and caring for their fellow human beings.  I am grateful for all who have served us – in every imaginable capacity.

It can, at times, be challenging to do our work. To follow our callings. Especially in the face of tremendous pressures – both internal and external.  But something as rare as a semiquincentennial should be our opportunity to stop and think about what we value, and what we can do – individually and together – to assure those values live on.

As others served us, so is it our responsibility to serve those who will come after us.

This issue of the Clairity Click-it brings together a carefully curated mix of ideas and resources to help you invent a better future. You’ll find content to support leadership, decision-making, communication, and fundraising — all organized by category so you can easily scan for what’s most relevant to you right now. Or come back when your priorities shift.

As you read, I invite you to look for just one idea you might try or adapt. If something resonates, save it, make a note, and put it on your calendar so it’s there for you when the moment is right.

As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise our critically important social benefit sector.

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re an enrolled Clairification School student, your JULY TIPS are live.  If you’re not yet enrolled, please consider helping me cover my costs. [This is a labor of love, but if the enrollment fee is a hardship, please email me and we’ll work it out. I want you on board!. My motto: “If I know it I want you to know it!”]

This issue marks the 13^th anniversary of the Clairity Click-it Newsletter.  That’s 364 issues (whoa!), all chock full of resources I hand select for you from across the web. And nothing I select will cost you a dime! I search assiduously, read every single article before sharing with you, and only select trusted resources for webinars, podcasts, e-guides, papers, reports and the like.

How can I afford the time, you wonder? I can’t! Which is why I have some sponsors to help underwrite what is, mostly, a labor of love. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to see who they are, and maybe click on their links to learn more about them.  They’re all terrific resources for you, and definitely worth your attention. I also want to extend a special shout out to my lead sponsor, Bloomerang, for all they do – beyond just their wonderful product — to help nonprofits make lasting change in their communities and the world.

If you’ve been along for the ride for a while, I hope you’ve gleaned some useful nuggets to help you in your work, and maybe even in your personal life. If you’re new, welcome!  I love sharing insights, research and practices from other disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, behavioral economics, mindfulness, for-profit marketing, and more. If you’ve found this newsletter thought-provoking, educational or just plain practical, please forward it to a curious colleague.  They can subscribe here for free.

But why stop here?

ENROLL in ‘Clairification School’ (modest annual charge to cover my costs) and receive access to ALL original articles (including 1,000+ article archive) + exclusive members’ only benefits: bonus content with actionable tips and ‘how-to’s,’ specific monthly tips, access to webinars and podcasts, and generous discounts on products and courses. Get your exclusive member benefits here!

ANNIVERSARY ENROLLMENT SPECIAL:

In honor of this anniversary, anyone who enrolls in Clairification School through the end of this month will receive an additional, meaty (or veggie heavy) BONUS e-guide — “Use Gratitude to Build Relationships that Pave the Way for Future Gifts” — jam-packed with actionable tips.

Thank you for doing your vital work, and making our world a better place,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’d like to receive ALL my content, and the $100 Clairification School enrollment fee (under $2/day) is a hardship, let me know. No questions asked. No judgement. I want to help. Period.

Once again, I’m inspired by the inimitable Seth Godin.

The real AI

“To quote the great Steve Wozniak, “Actual Intelligence.” The kind we’re born with and can develop if we choose. It’s worth more now than ever before. Alas, it’s rarely taught in school.

The difficult work of making choices.

The act of curation.

The responsibility of putting your name on it.

The judgment to ask the right questions and skip the other ones.

The imperative to ship useful work.

The pursuit of good taste.

The patience to sit with the right problem rather than solving the wrong one.

The generosity to create for someone specific.

Seeking justice.

Offering dignity.

Knowing when to stop.

Investing in deep empathy, not a shallow substitute.

Taking initiative and doing the reading.

Being patient, or impatient, depending on what’s needed.

Ignoring the noise.

Making something that matters.

Caring.”

— Seth Godin

This issue of the Clairity Click-it Newsletter highlights multiple intelligences — actual, artificial, artful, actionable, and more. Your job is to be discerning. Think. Reflect. Patiently consider. Ask yourself: Am I moving forward? If not, why not? 

Which is why I’ve collected lots of resources over the past two weeks – all with the hope you’ll find something to help you develop the momentum to move forward.  Need new ideas? Skills? Perspectives? They’re all here. Check them out! You’re guaranteed to find something that will shift your thinking.

As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise our critically important social benefit sector.

You’ve got this!

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.P.S. If you’re an enrolled Clairification School student, your JUNE TIPS are live.  If you’re not yet enrolled, there’s no better time.

As we enter a memorial weekend in the U.S., I am reminded to be grateful for all who have served us – in every imaginable capacity. As others served us, so is it our responsibility to serve those who will come after us.

Have you ever thought about the expression of gratitude as a service to others?

I’d love for you to think about this, both in your personal and professional life.  When a “thank you” comes to mind, don’t just think it silently. Express it! You’ve nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

“Gratitude is the practice of seeing the true value of what we have and what we’ve experienced.

It doesn’t come naturally or happen of its own accord. Gratitude is not a feeling but a deliberate practice.”

— Bernadette Jiwa

This issue of the Clairity Click-it brings together a carefully curated mix of ideas and resources to help you invent a better future. You’ll find content to support leadership, decision-making, communication, and fundraising — all organized by category so you can easily scan for what’s most relevant to you right now. Or come back when your priorities shift.

As you read, I invite you to look for just one idea you might try or adapt. If something resonates, save it, make a note, and put it on your calendar so it’s there for you when the moment is right.

As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise our critically important social benefit sector.

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re an enrolled Clairification School student, your JUNE TIPS are live.  If you’re not yet enrolled, please consider helping me simply cover my costs. [This is a labor of love, but if the enrollment fee is a hardship, please email me and we’ll work it out. I want you on board – even if it costs me money. My motto: “If I know it I want you to know it!”]

I just can’t stop taking inspiration from the inimitable Seth Godin.

More alternatives, please

There are two ways for an artisan or professional to see the world:

Scarcity. This is the idea that if there were fewer photographers, more people would hire me to do wedding pictures. That if the bar exam were more selective, it would be easier for my firm to get clients. And if everyone would just stop imagining they could be an author/musician/magician/painter, my life would be a lot better. (And AI should be barred from doing what I do.)

Abundance. This is the more resilient and likely idea that when others show up to participate in your craft, it brings energy, insight and activity to the field.

The truth is that books don’t sell very well in the supermarket, where there are no other books. They do better in the bookstore, right next to all the other books.

— Seth Godin

Don’t fight your fellow nonprofits. This isn’t a competition. It’s a cooperation. Working together to build a better world. Where you can collaborate, do so. When you can refer a donor to a colleague, do so. A rising tide raises all boats.

Okay, let’s get in to today’s content. I’ve collected lots of resources over the past two weeks – all with the hope you’ll find something to help you enact your mission. As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise our critically important social benefit sector.

You’ve got this!

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re an enrolled Clairification School student, your MAY TIPS are live.  If you’re not yet enrolled, there’s no better time.

Today I want to remind you that part and parcel of your personal mission, as a philanthropy facilitator, is to bring supporters opportunities for meaning and purpose.

Because when you help increase others’ sense of wellbeing, not only is the world a better place but these folks are more likely to demonstrate gratitude by giving of themselves.

Meaning drives us to act with generosity and resolve.

There is no substitute for this, not even happiness – the pursuit of which is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution! But is that really what it’s all about? If so, the U.S. is failing. Did you know two years ago the U.S. dropped out of the top 20 happiest countries for the first time ever, dropping from #15 to #23?

“Point is: the good life isn’t about “happiness.” It’s about meaning. Meaning is more resilient. More significant. More enduring. It emerges when we live out our most noble motivations. It’s a process, not a point in time. It’s a never ending game. All we can do is choose to keep playing.

What would happen if we stopped measuring happiness, and started measuring the amount of meaning we experience? And more importantly, if we reoriented our lives, our work, and our organizations toward cultivating more of it?”

— Hugh MacLeod, Gaping Void. Why We’re Measuring the Wrong Thing

Or consider this:

 “For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it.”

–Viktor Frankl

MacLeod argues autonomy, purpose, community, mastery, and connection are far more holistic and effective heuristics than measuring “happiness,” as these have been shown to increase feelings of well-being. I would add these are things philanthropy facilitators should strive for as well, rather than focusing solely on monetary transactions.

If you help people find meaning and purpose, the money will follow.

Okay, let’s get in to today’s content. Hopefully some of the resources I’ve collected over the past two weeks will help you enact your mission. As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise the critically important social benefit sector.

You’ve got this!

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. Please scroll down to see all my Clairification School sponsors who enable me to offer enrollment in ‘Clairification School at an affordable price Your support, via enrollment, is what keeps all my content flowing. So, if you appreciate it, please become a “student!” [If the enrollment fee is a hardship, please email me and we’ll work it out.]

I’m hearing from many nonprofits who are feeling at sixes and sevens when it comes to planning for the uncertain year ahead. I certainly understand. The pace of change today is fast and furious, and it often feels yesterday’s truth is today’s untruth.

What’s a sensible nonprofit to do in response?

I want to make an argument for action. Rather than react, get proactive. Don’t allow your fight/flight/freeze instincts to take over right now. Your constituents rely on you not to disappear or hunker in a bunker. They need you to fight.

Get curious!

Don’t succumb to those who would say “Well, obviously, we need to cut back right now.” Or to those who might tell you “We obviously can’t make any waves.” There are other ways to behave.

Obvious vs perhaps

“Obvious” closes the door to inquiry.

“Perhaps” opens it.

— Seth Godin

I’m counting on you – each of you — to use some of the insights you glean in this week’s issue of the “Clairity Click-it” to be better, do better, and help others do the same.  I hope, as you dig through this hand-curated content from across the web, it will make your job easier, and more fulfilling. It is my sincere pleasure and honor to help you find the ideas, strategies, templates and tools you need to succeed.

As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise the critically important social benefit sector.

You’ve got this!

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. Please scroll down to see all my Clairification School sponsors who enable me to offer enrollment in ‘Clairification School at an affordable price [If the enrollment fee is a hardship, please email me and we’ll work it out.]

What will you do to spring forth and meet the moment? I’m counting on you – each of you — to use some of the insights you glean in this week’s issue of the Clairity Click-it to be better, do better, and help others do the same.  I hope, as you dig through this hand-curated content from across the web, it will make your job easier, and more fulfilling.

I pick every resource thoughtfully (no AI used here) specifically to bring you the big ideas and useful tools you need to make our world a better place. It is my sincere pleasure and honor to help you find the ideas, strategies, templates and tools you need to succeed.

As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise the critically important social benefit sector.

You’ve got this!

Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. Please scroll down to see all my Clairification School sponsors who enable me to offer enrollment in ‘Clairification School at an affordable price. Mostly, this is a labor of love. So, if you value these resources, please consider enrolling so I can keep this train chugging along.  Your support is MUCH APPRECIATED!