Sasha Dichter

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A NonProfit CEO Manifesto (blame it on Seth Godin)

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Inspired by Seth Godin, and his new book Tribes, I collected my thoughts after nearly two years in my current role at Acumen Fund.

I wrote a manifesto.  You can read it here.

This one isn’t for everyone, but you probably know someone who’d like to read it. Do me (and them) a favor and send it to them.

And tell me what you think.  I think this one is important, and since the economy is blowing up and won’t improve any time soon, now is a good time for nonprofits to rethink how they think about raising money.

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Sasha Dichter

I’m Sasha Dichter. I’ve written this blog since 2008, about generosity, fundraising, leadership and the long, slow work of pursuing mastery. By day I run 60 Decibels. More about me · Browse by topic

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51 responses to “A NonProfit CEO Manifesto (blame it on Seth Godin)”

  1. Duke Clarke Avatar
    Duke Clarke

    I love this manifesto! I worked in the non-profit arena for years, so I know the feelings. But whether it is “For-profit” or “Non-profit” the concept of your dream, your passion, your zeal being bigger than your own ego is essential. It’s the breathe of life to us all. The joy of spreading the vision of what you love should be everyone’s mission in life. Money is a by-product of an inspired vision that enlightens those who hear it. So I totally agree, focus on the passion of what you are doing and let the rest fall into place.

  2. Dr.Mani Avatar
    Dr.Mani

    Sasha, because of reading your manifesto on Seth’s blog, I will be asking people for money to support my work with kids born with CHD – and evangelizing my mission – with a lot more confidence, less shyness and an extra dose of energy than before.

    Thank you from my heart for the difference you are helping make in the world.

    All success
    Dr.Mani

  3. Sasha Avatar
    Sasha

    Dr. Mani,

    Thank you so much, your words really mean a lot and best of luck with your work and getting the word out.

    Sasha

  4. Nick Fellers Avatar
    Nick Fellers

    A great manifesto! Easy to read and inspirational.

    Zig Ziglar (sales trainer) used to do a segment on how “sales people make the world go ’round”. Maybe fundraisers (or pick your word choice) make the world go ’round… better.

    Whether drives of a product or drivers of change people should drive with conviction and without apology.

  5. Chas Grundy Avatar
    Chas Grundy

    I’ll be sharing this with my fellow board members, as well as the readers of my site. My own attempt at a non-profit manifesto (from a while back) didn’t quite say what I needed it to say.

    This is energizing and encouraging to me. You’ve put into words what I often struggle to convey.

  6. Philanthropy Daily Digest | Tactical Philanthropy

    […] A NonProfit CEO Manifesto (blame it on Seth Godin) « Sasha Dichter’s Blog Sasha Dichter, the director of business development at the Acumen Fund writes a Manifesto titled "In Defense of Raising Money". He makes some great points and declares, :I’m sick of apologizing for being in charge of raising money." (tags: philanthropy) This entry was written by admin and posted on October 27, 2008 at 11:02 am. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment. […]

  7. Chas Grundy Avatar
    Chas Grundy

    I meant to leave this in my previous comment as well.

    “If nothing else, then, we need a new word. Fundraising is about a transaction – I raise funds from you, you get nothing in return.”

    I prefer the word “development” because it encompasses the entire process and not just the transaction. But I try to use the word investment as much as possible. I used it in our annual appeal letter this year, as such:

    “Donations are more than ‘gifts.’ We treat each donation as an investment in the community and do all we can to maximize the impact of each dollar. And we’ll let you know how your investment made a difference.”

    I can’t give my donors a cash return, but I can sure as heck show them just how far we stretched their money to make a difference. If they truly care about the cause and you truly believe you can do something about it, then “investment” is your agreement to deliver results on their dollars.

  8. Nathaniel Whittemore Avatar
    Nathaniel Whittemore

    Hi Sasha,

    Really, really awesome. I wrote about it on Socialentrepreneurship.change.org and forwarded it to all of my friends who work in development!

    Keep up the good work (and the great writing)

    Nathaniel

  9. Karin VanZant Avatar
    Karin VanZant

    This is very good. I will be sharing with all of my peers, non-profit EDs and will make sure my board sees this. I am new to the world of fund raising, being a professional grant writer, but my eyes are open and I am taking it all in. Thanks for this Sasha and to Nick for passing it along.

    K

  10. theresa newhard Avatar
    theresa newhard

    Excellent topic and insightful points. Thanks, Sasha.

  11. Ed Walker Avatar
    Ed Walker

    I read the manifesto, great stuff. I’m not a CEO myself but I sent it to mine, hopefully he’ll get a chance to read it.

  12. Kerri Mollard Avatar
    Kerri Mollard

    Bravo! Well said.

    I will to all my nonprofit colleagues and will include as a reading in a new undergraduate course on philanthropy and fundraising that I’m developing for Ohio Dominican University.

  13. Johnny Chung Lee’s Wii remote hacks and the power of sharing « Sasha Dichter’s Blog

    […] posted a manifesto the other day making the same point as Mr. Lee: that the innovation, the insight, and the direct […]

  14. Larry Beattie Avatar
    Larry Beattie

    wonderful. I have forwarded the link to a non-profit board and executive director as well as to anyone else I could think of that has volunteered to do fund raising for worthwhile causes. Thank Sasha for putting into words what is in so many hearts

  15. lillie Avatar
    lillie

    kudos! i am definitely passing this one on.

  16. A NonProfit CEO Manifesto | Socialmediaworx

    […] Read the complete post on Dichter’s blog. […]

  17. shel Avatar
    shel

    This is completely awesome! Well done on a brilliantly inspiring piece – I will definitely be spreading it around!

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  20. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Very nice job! I work with a lot of non-profits, and will be sharing with them, for sure.

    One question: you mention that storytelling is a skill that can be learned. Do you have suggestions as to how? Is it a class? A book? (anything other than “practice”?)

    thanks!

  21. Sasha Avatar
    Sasha

    Ben,

    I don’t think there’s a simple answer to your question. Acumen Fund has a Fellows Program where we try to teach these skills through a combination of discussion, dialogue with great communicators, feedback and practice.

    I don’t think a class or a book alone will do it, and I don’t think it can happen without practice. That said, I strongly recommend the book Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. It really dissects ‘sticky’ ideas and unpacks their components, and focusing on Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible and Emotional stories is, in my mind, both valuable and teachable.

    Thanks for your comment,
    Sasha

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  23. Gregory Cohen Avatar
    Gregory Cohen

    Sasha,

    You have distilled an essential truth about fundraising–it is long past time we throw away the tin cup model of fundraising.

    The most effective fundraising is done as a direct extension of mission. At Cause Effective, we teach board members and staff that sustainability, particularly in times like these, comes from building communities of supportive individuals–Seth’s Tribes as you have put it–whose core values lead them to care about your work, and with their help, understand the importance of their group’s work.

    However, we do see donating (and volunteering) as an equal exchange and say no one will give more than they receive back: what they get in exchange is the satisfaction that they are involved in addressing social issues they care deeply about. Part of the job of fundraisers is communicating with donors after receiving a gift –promoting the exchange–by telling them how their donation has made a difference and, in a genuine way, giving them an opportunity to feel more a part of the community of people united by shared values about justice, health or whatever the particular mission of the nonprofit.

  24. Anne Avatar
    Anne

    Sasha –

    Thank you for your inspirational words! (And for bringing Seth Godin’s wisdom to the sector.) My favorite line of your manifesto is this one:

    “be an evangelist for your idea and convince others about the change you want to see in the world”

    This is about doing it ALL differently – whether it’s fundraising, marketing, or management. It’s a whole new world – and everyone has an equal opportunity to engage with each other in a new way. Very exciting.

    Rock on.

    Anne

  25. Elisa Avatar
    Elisa

    Sascha,
    Thank you, thank you for taking the stigma out of the title “fundraiser.” People who think badly about fundraisers are just a little ignorant about what it is we do, and your manifesto will help educate them.

    Elisa

  26. phill Avatar
    phill

    I was just whining about a new non-profit i was going to start…and in the whining session I was talking about the fear of raising money and having enough to live on and get this thing off the ground…

    And all of a sudden this link came across and I read what you wrote…

    It was exactly what i needed…a refocusing and reminder that what i am doing is just that important…

  27. Why Fundraising is a Blessing « brad lomenick :: on the journey

    […] Why Fundraising is a Blessing Posted on October 29, 2008 by bradlomenick If you work in a not-for-profit environment and/or are assigned in any way to raising money, then you need to read this. Thanks Seth for the heads up on this. And thanks Sasha for writing it.  […]

  28. Yudhis Avatar
    Yudhis

    thanks sasha for the encouraging words. means a lot for us here

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  30. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    Sasha,

    I read your manifesto on Seth Godin’s blog. This is excellent and inspiring. I am leading a team that seeks to create a new model of support for families of children with life shortening illnesses.

    Some days I think we are crazy to try and begin a new non-profit in this economy but the needs of the children and families drive us to continue. I am encouraged by your manifesto to keep fighting the good fight and evangelizing for these families needs. I will be sharing this with the rest of my team.

    -scott

  31. Nancy Trueblood Avatar
    Nancy Trueblood

    Re Ben’s question about storytelling training, Andy Goodman is doing some fantastic work in teaching storytelling principles. I attended a workshop in Chicago, sponsored by Lipman Hearne and made available free to non-profit folks, and found it enormously helpful in planning how our agency can tell its stories. His website is http://www.thegoodmancenter.com. He also has a great little monthly publication called Free-range thinking. Available online at http://www.agoodmanonline.com.

  32. Kathy Nicklaus Avatar
    Kathy Nicklaus

    Dear Sasha,
    What a brilliant manifesto! I have sent the link to the entire BoD of my organization.
    Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us all…I have always bee passionate about CAN and you gave me more reason to shout it from the rooftops!
    Amazing, truly wonderful!
    Kathy Nicklaus
    Executive Director
    Cancer Alliance of Naples

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  34. Keith Jennings Avatar
    Keith Jennings

    Dear Sasha,

    Thank you for your inspiring manifesto! It’s so relevant to nonprofit healthcare providers, who tend to become distracted by their next to-do item and lose sight of the impact they can have on the world.

    It’s funny, the best manifestos are rarely written by CEOs.

    Can’t wait to learn more from you.

    – Keith

  35. Jeff Goins Avatar
    Jeff Goins

    Thanks for this.

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  38. Karin L. George Avatar
    Karin L. George

    Dear Sasha,

    Your manifesto is wonderful and perfectly on point. Your timing couldn’t be better either as so many organizations need support from proud leaders who must use their megaphones and soapboxes with passion and clear voice. Thank you for putting into words something I feel every day.

    Karin L. George
    Senior Associate
    Washburn & McGoldrick, Inc.

  39. Carol Johnson Avatar
    Carol Johnson

    So proud and happy for you! I’ve told you that before, but now everyone knows how terrific you are!

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  41. Dave Craige Avatar
    Dave Craige

    impressive. saved!

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  45. Philip Avatar
    Philip

    Thank you Sasha!

    Your manifesto really summarize it all!

    *preparing myself for the next session of tribe member recruitment*

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  48. Tom Cannon Avatar
    Tom Cannon

    Sasha,
    I just finished a two year stint as the Development Director for the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, GA (near Savannah). If I could turn back the clock, I would have my boss and every Board member read this and commit to its points. That did not happen and I am now teaching a fund raising course at Savannah College of Art and Design. I want to use your manifesto in my course (with appropriate acknowledgement of course because I want them to bookmark your website), for it sums up so well why fundraising is so important, especially in this time and place. Even though my time at the Mighty Eighth did not end well, it’s still one of the best jobs I’ve ever had, and your manifesto has helped me explain that contradictory point to skeptical friends and family. Thank you for summing up so well why I’m still in this field.
    Sincerely,
    Tom Cannon

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