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Clairity Click-it: Inner Filament Nonprofit Links + Resources

We begin this issue with a poem for you. It’s a call for you to share your voice in bolder, deeper ways. The world needs it. The world needs you!

The One Deep Inside Your Chest

Step back and watch your body, being a body.
Watch an arm move through space, watch an ankle turn.

Watch your body, as it likes things or doesn’t,
as it gets scrapes and bruises
as the skin darkens and falls into folds.

Step back to the perimeter of the theater
and watch your body on the stage.

Recede to that quiet knowing:
For now, I am associated with this body —
not inside it, or one with it —
just associated, for a time.

Casing. Only casing.
Be kind to the casing if you like — put oils
on it and nourish it and move it to keep it stronger, for a time.
Never become it. There, only suffering.

Can you feel the one deep inside your chest, who has existed forever?
Who has made a thousand journeys?
Who feels like a comet in the dark?
The inner filament?

I know, no one ever told you.
I know. It wasn’t the name you learned to write at school,
but that one is you.
That one is the real you.

– Tara Mohr

Here are the resources that have been speaking to me over the past two weeks. Twice a month I collect and curate articles, whitepapers, webinars, templates and guides I encounter in my travels across the web. This newsletter is free to you thanks to my sponsor, Bloomerang. I hope you enjoy these resources as much as I enjoy finding them for you.

Thank you SO MUCH for doing the important work you do, And may your inner filament shine through!

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you find value in Clairification, please sign up now for all the benefits ‘Clairification School’ has to offer. Feel free to check out what others say about why they’ve joined. If you’re not happy, I’ll refund you the $1.92/week. How’s that?

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Clairity Click-it: Sand Pail Full of Nonprofit Links + Resources

How is it going? How are you dealing with the transition to a different world space?

I know it can be challenging to put all your worries, anxieties, frustrations and tensions on the shelf. It’s that way for me — which is why I’m trying to consciously focus on the places where we find our power, values, wisdom and possibilities.

Whenever I feel myself slipping into a space of criticism, judgment or negativity, I try to pull myself back from the darkness; then move forward towards the light. I’ll be writing about this more on the Clairification blog in the coming weeks and months.

Today it’s all about the resources that have been speaking to me over the past two weeks. Sometimes work can be more fun, energizing and meaningful when you learn a new skill, are exposed to a different point of view, or if you just take a somewhat different approach. Here’s a collection of articles, whitepapers, webinars, templates and guides to broaden your outlook!

This newsletter is free to you thanks to my sponsor, Bloomerang. I hope you enjoy these resources as much as I enjoy finding them for you. As you may know, my motto is: “If I know it, I want you to know it!”  

That’s why I also offer my virtual year-round ‘Clairification School,’ with an extraordinarily modest tuition. Because I’ve got a LOT more to share with you based on my 40 years’ experience – 30 of them in the trenches – plus all the new things I learn every day in my practice.

If you find value in Clairification, please sign up now for all the benefits ‘Clairification School’ has to offer. It’s as free of a ‘public school’ as I can make it, while covering expenses.

Your support makes it possible and, truly, means a lot. Now… let’s get to this issue’s “click-it” links!

Thank you SO MUCH for doing the important work you do,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re on the fence about enrolling in Clairification School, see what others say about why they’ve joined. If you’re not happy, I’ll refund you the $1.92/week.

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Clairity Click-it: Beach Bag Full of Nonprofit Links + Resources

If you’re vaccinated, you’re free to roam about the country  — maybe even go to the beach! Certainly take some time to relax, recharge and fill your soul with whatever inspiration you can find.

Sometimes work can be more fun, energizing and meaningful when you learn a new skill, are exposed to a different point of view, or if you just take a somewhat different approach. Here’s a collection of seasonal reading to broaden your outlook!

Once again I thank my generous sponsor, Bloomerang, for their continued support of my curation of useful content for you – all so you can facilitate passionate philanthropy to make our world a better place.

If you find one or more articles, webinars or free downloadable guides useful I’ll be happy.  And if you find Clairification helpful, I hope you’ll consider enrolling in Clairification School to get a full year’s worth of ALL the wisdom I have to share!

My motto is:  “If I know it, I want you to know it.”

Let’s get right to this issue’s links!

Thank you for doing the important work you do.

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re on the fence about enrolling in Clairification School, see what others say about why they’ve joined. If you’re not happy, I’ll refund you the $1.92/week.

Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…

JeJune Clairity Click-it: Useful Nonprofit Links + Resources

We’re now transitioning to a novel period of nonprofit transformation, informed by events of the past year and an acceleration of digital disruption. It’s not “back to normal,” but that’s a good thing since normal was probably part of the problem.

I’m calling this issue jejune partly as a play on the name of the month we’re in and partly because jejune means “devoid of significance or interest.” Could that be how you’ve been doing fundraising? Are you relevant, or do you fail to meet folks where they are and fully engage them?

In recognition of the fact we’re moving from pre- to during to post-, I’m retiring one feature and adding a new one with this issue. The “Tips for Not-So-Normal Times” which debuted during the pandemic has now run its 15-month course (that’s long enough!). But the way forward is uncertain, and much is in flux. There’s so much conversation about the role of philanthropy and nonprofits and the best way to do fundraising that I’m debuting a new “Opinions” feature where I’ll showcase more than one side of an issue. Please let me know what you think; I truly value feedback.

Thank you again to my generous 2021 sponsor, Bloomerang, for their continued support of my curation of content for you across the web – all with the goal of helping you in your quest to facilitate passionate philanthropy. If you find one or more articles, webinars or free downloadable guides useful I’ll be happy.

And if you find Clairification useful … please consider enrolling in Clairification School to get 12 months of all the wisdom I have to share!

My motto is:  “If I know it, I want you to know it.”

Let’s get to this issue’s “click-it” links!

Thank you for doing the important work you do,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you’re on the fence about enrolling in Clairification School, see what others say about why they’ve joined. If you’re not happy, I’ll refund you the $1.92/week. How’s that?

Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…

Bustin’ Out Clairity Click-it: Useful Nonprofit Links + Resources

June is about to bust out in bloom. How might you bust out and blossom as well?

I’ve got free tips and tools galore, bustin’ out all over!

I begin by thanking my generous sponsor, Bloomerang, for their continued support of my curation of content for you across the web – all with the goal of helping you in your quest to facilitate passionate philanthropy. If you find one or more articles, webinars or free downloadable guides useful I’ll be happy. And if you find Clairification useful …

Please consider enrolling in Clairification School to get 12 month’s of all the wisdom I have to share!

My motto is:  “If I know it, I want you to know it.”

Let’s get right to this issue’s links!

Thank you for doing the important work you do,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S.

I try to make my content as close to free as humanly possible (without it costing me money). If you’re on the fence about enrolling, see what others say about why they’ve joined. If you’re not happy, I’ll refund you. How’s that?

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Unmasking Clairity Click-it: Useful Nonprofit Links + Resources

“For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us”

— Amanda Gorman, excerpt from “The Hill We Climb” inaugural poem

Venture forward. What you do now matters. For today and tomorrow.

Whether you rest on your laurels, continue in complacency, and content yourself with status quo OR dig deeply to find how you might re-invent to find greater balance, justice and truth.

The choice is yours. And, oh, what a choice.

To take the easy path… or forge a new one potent with promise. To work to your least, medium… or greatest capacity. To tread water… or dive into work that centers empathy and equity. To follow… or lead.

The work of those who toil in the vineyards of the social benefit sector is not always easy. Success is not measured by how much profit redounds to shareholders, but by how much social return is generated from your investment. Frankly, this is increasingly important to workers in all sectors. “Do no harm” is not enough; the goal is creating ACTIVE good. The venture is a collective one, with internal and external stakeholders joining together in shared purpose. How you create a collective culture, foster a sense of identity, meaning and belonging, and enthusiastically engage your village, becomes a critical piece of the impact you will have.

What will your legacy be? How will you activate it? How will you reshape the future?

To help you become the best you can be, I’m happy to present this edition of free resources for your continuing education and consideration.  This comes with a huge shout-out to this year’s sponsor, Bloomerang.

Beyond this bimonthly curated newsletter, I’ve got lots more wisdom to share and hope you’ll take advantage this year by enrolling in Clairification School. This gives you a full 12 months of strategic advice — articles, free webinars, monthly tips, bonuses and more. If you’re on the fence about enrolling, see what others say about why they’ve joined.

Enjoy, and may you go from strength to strength,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. Check out my free fundraising advice column on the Bloomerang blog! Ask your question here. And bookmark the Ask an Expert page! See the recently posted (1) What is the Purpose of Publicizing Legacy Gifts? and (2) How to Negotiate a Gift of Reality with Strings Attached.

Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…

May Flowers Clairity Click-it: Useful Nonprofit Links + Resources

Time to emerge from the showers of April to the flowers of May.

Metaphorically, of course. Weather has been weird some places.

No matter. It’s a good time to consider the big picture. To go to that place where weirdness and arguments cease. Where there is no “right” or “wrong.” Only possibility.

This reminds me of some of Rumi’s most widely quoted verses.

Out beyond ideas of
wrongdoing and rightdoing
there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down
in that grass,
the world is too full
to talk about.

Ideas, language,
even the phrase ‘each other’
doesn’t make any sense.

– RUMI

What are the truths and values that animate your work, and how can you come from this place to connect more meaningfully with your constituents?

To help you become even more mindful in the contributions you make, I’m happy to present this edition of free resources for you to enjoy.  Again, I’d like to send a shout-out to this year’s sponsor, Bloomerang, for keeping this gratis.

I’ve got lots more wisdom to share, and hope you’ll take advantage this year.  Clairification School gives you a full 12 months of strategic advice! Articles, free webinars, monthly tips, bonuses and more. If you’re on the fence about enrolling, see what others say about why they’ve joined.

Enjoy, and may you go from strength to strength,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. Check out my free fundraising advice column on the Bloomerang blog! Ask your question here. And bookmark the Ask an Expert page! Check out (1) Who are the best prospects for legacy gifts? and (2) What are Predictive Analytics for Planned Giving?

Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…

Clairity Click-it: Bunch of Useful Nonprofit Links + Resources

When’s the last time you sat down and were thoughtful about prioritizing your agenda?

Spring is an excellent time for new beginnings, and I have just the inspiration you need to provoke your thinking, not just about your own work but also about how to inspire donors to include your cause on their action plan for the coming year.

From Jobs to be done

We can measure our performance (and our days) by how well we’re doing the jobs to be done. They focus our attention and our effort and create positive outcomes when we do them on time (and negative ones when we don’t).

12 or more years of school are nothing but this. Training in awareness of jobs to be done, and applying the minimum amount of effort to get those jobs done. Show me your list of jobs to be done and I’ll have a good idea of how you spend your time and the impact you’re making.

Easily overlooked, though, is the process of how something gets on our agenda or doesn’t. Working on voting rights, paying attention to voices unheard, grabbing possibilities for learning or growth or contribution–these are easy to ignore if they’re not on the list of jobs to be done.

And the people who do have these on their list… part of their job is to put their issue on our lists.

As soon as you sign up for a social network, it becomes a job to be done. And the moment you take investment for a new company, your jobs to be done completely change.

This gets meta pretty quick: one of the jobs to be done is to be clear about what the jobs to be done are, and whether or not they are the right jobs.

And another one of the jobs to be done is helping other people see that the things we care about belong on their list of jobs to be done.

If all you’re doing is the jobs you used to do, you’re certainly missing out on the contributions you’re capable of.”

— Seth Godin

To help you become even more capable in the contributions you make, I’m happy to present this edition of free resources for you to enjoy.  This year’s Click-it comes to you for free due to the generous sponsorship of Bloomerang. I am so grateful, as it continues to be my great pleasure to curate content for you across the web – all with the goal of helping you in your quest to facilitate passionate philanthropy.

I’ve got lots more wisdom to share, and hope you’ll take advantage this year.  Clairification School gives you a full 12 months of strategic advice! Articles, free webinars, monthly tips, bonuses and more. If you’re on the fence about enrolling, see what others say about why they’ve joined.

Enjoy, and may you go from strength to strength,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. Please check out all my 2021 sponsors (below) who make enrollment in ‘Clairification School’ so beneficial. I dare you not to raise a quick extra $100 — and much more — after digging into all the resources that will come your way. You get in-depth, actionable articles, webinars, monthly tips, bonuses and more. Plus you’ll build saleable skills to keep you in demand. My amazing, carefully-selected, highly recommended sponsors (scroll to the bottom) help to underwrite costs, so it’s not $800 – $1,000 like programs you’ll find elsewhere.  Just $8.33/month.

Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…

Clairity Click-it: Bouquet of Useful Nonprofit Links + Resources

Here’s a spring bouquet of free resources for you to enjoy.  It continues to be my great pleasure to curate content for you across the web – all with the goal of helping you in your quest to facilitate passionate philanthropy. This year’s Click-it comes to you for free due to the generous sponsorship of Bloomerang. Please check them out and send them a “huzzah!”

I’ve got lots more wisdom to share, and hope you’ll take advantage this year.  Clairification School gives you a full 12 months of strategic advice! Articles, free webinars, monthly tips, bonuses and more. If you’re on the fence about enrolling, see what others say about why they’ve joined.

Enjoy, and may you go from strength to strength,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you want to learn from 30 Nonprofit Experts over 3 full days — March 23–25** — — simply CLICK HERE. The Top Nonprofits Changemakers “Being the Change” Virtual Summit will address critical issues facing nonprofits TODAY in fundraising, marketing and operations, management and strategy. Since I’m speaking, I get to offer members of the Clairification Community – YOU — $50 off the already ridiculously affordable price (works out to about $7/session and you get access to all recordings for a full year)! Be sure to use CODE Claire50. Oh, and did I mention there will be CFRE credits, prize give-aways and live comedy?

Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…

Spring Cleaning Clairity Click-it: Useful Nonprofit Links + Resources

The trap of busy

Everyone who wants to be busy is busy.

But not everyone is productive.

Busy is simply a series of choices about how to spend the next minute.

Productive requires skill, persistence and good judgment. Productive means that you have created something of value.

Perhaps your self-created busy-ness is causing you to be less productive.

— Seth Godin

This week I want you to consider whether what you’re busying yourself with is the most productive use of your time. Are you prioritizing the work that will yield you the results you most seek? Or are you back-burnering your most important tasks simply because it’s easier that way?

While it may seem less stressful that way in the short-term, it’s almost never easier over the long haul. You must plant fruit trees today if you hope to harvest a crop tomorrow.

Do you often fall into the pattern of “just doing my job,” without considering what might happen if you replaced “doing” with “improving,” “reinventing,” or “transforming?”

Hopefully some of this week’s resources will help you turn the mission-critical tasks that seem daunting into tasks that seem approachable. What might you do in the months ahead to positively transform your culture, work output and revenue-generation?

It’s time for a little spring cleaning.

Throw out the old; the strategies no longer bringing you joy. Add some new stuff that brings you energy. Your resources await!

Thank you for doing what you do to make our world a more caring, more just place,

Claire

claire@clairification.com

P.S. If you want to learn from 30 Nonprofit Experts over 3 full days — March 23–25** — — simply CLICK HERE. The Top Nonprofits Changemakers “Being the Change” Virtual Summit will address critical issues facing nonprofits TODAY in fundraising, marketing and operations, management and strategy. Since I’m speaking, I get to offer members of the Clairification Community – YOU — $50 off the already ridiculously affordable price (works out to about $7/session and you get access to all recordings for a full year)! Be sure to use CODE Claire50. Oh, and did I mention there will be CFRE credits, prize give-aways and live comedy?

Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…