Values drive nonprofit donor investment - Part II

Values-based resource development requires nonprofits to examine and articulate their values as reflected in their philosophies of service, strategic planning, and the stewardship that sustains them.

The 2010 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits directory lists more than 2,000 nonprofit members, so your donor base has thousands of options for spending time, money and resources. Today’s donors are a savvy group; they are approached frequently and in a variety of effective ways. Donors of the highest level carefully consider whether or not to align their giving strategy with your fund development strategy.

I interviewed David Bromelkamp, president of Allodium Investment Consultants here in Minneapolis, for his insight on how nonprofits can be more strategic in their relationship with donors.

Our interview appeared as a guest blog posting on The Ritter Group’s website. You can read the full interview at www.therittergroup.com (part 2 of the interview has now been posted).

Email me with examples of how your nonprofit is building relationships, especially in the 2010 financial landscape. What has changed? What has improved? And remember, Bill Gates once said, “Giving away money effectively is almost as hard as earning it in the first place.”

Yvonne Hundshamer
President, Blue Grotto Inc.
yvonne@bluegrottoinc.com

Values drive investment in nonprofits

A colleague, Nicole Harrison - partner in the Ritter Group, asked me to write as a guest columnist for the Ritter Group's webpage/blog.

Delighted to take her up on her offer, I submitted an interview I conducted with David Bromelkamp, president of Allodium Investment Consultants here in Minneapolis. I've attended several of his company's quarterly presentations on fiduciary responsibility and stewardship of nonprofit boards of directors and am so impressed by his fluency in the language of nonprofits.

Increasingly, nonprofits are using their core values to strengthen their funding relationships. At the same time, leaders in both corporate social responsibility and individual philanthropy are choosing organizations based on values of stewardship including management, decision-making, leadership, innovation and business philosophy.

As you know, Blue Grotto Inc., works closely with organizations to develop organic communications strategies that articulate their vision for the future.

Link here to the Ritter Group's site www.therittergroup.com where you can read the blog. Would love to hear your feedback, and commentary on the relationship-building process for nonprofits.


Yvonne Hundshamer
President, Blue Grotto Inc.
yvonne@bluegrottoinc.com