Donors are Not Extemely Happy

The Nonprofit Times reports the following: “Only slightly more than 1 in 10 donors (13 percent) say their experience as a donor exceeded expectations, according to a new survey. While 83 percent of donors said their experience met expectations, it leaves “more room for improvement for nonprofits to wow their donors,” said Dirk Rinker, president … Read more

Debunking "Accountability to Donors" – Finale

We accomplish what we hold ourselves accountable for. In wrapping up the past week’s rant about the issues related to Donor Accountability, I want to first share what triggered that rant. And then I want to share what we can do to hold ourselves accountable in a way that makes donors happy and, most importantly, … Read more

Debunking “Accountability to Donors” Part 6

Is the Donor Accountability movement correct? Should community organizations be aiming their primary accountability squarely at their donors? Having spent the week throwing grenades at that notion, today’s is the last argument I will make before wrapping up this subject tomorrow. (If you have not read the posts leading up to this one, you can … Read more

Debunking “Accountability to Donors” Part 5

As I have noted throughout this series, the notion that organizations are primarily accountable to their donors not only misdirects organizational focus, but it is fraught with logic holes large enough to comfortably house a family of four. In my posts today and tomorrow – the last posts before I wrap this up – I … Read more

Debunking “Accountability to Donors” Part 4

In this series, I have considered the logic flaws in the argument that organizations should be holding themselves primarily accountable to their donors. So far, I have considered the following questions: 1) Are fully funded / endowed organizations with no donors accountable to no one? 2) Should different levels of giving receive different levels of … Read more

Debunking "Accountability to Donors" Part 3

The notion that organizations are primarily accountable to their donors is a dangerous one indeed – dangerous because it misdirects organizational focus, thereby preventing organizations from creating an amazing future for their communities. It is also a notion fraught with logic-leaps. And so, here is Post #3, as I continue to debunk the illogical constructs … Read more

Debunking “Accountability to Donors” Part 2

In my first post on Donor Rights / Donor Accountability, here is what I said: The notion that organizations are primarily accountable to their donors is a dangerous sidetrack from where organizations must aim their primary accountability if we are to create an amazing future for our communities. And so here is Post #2, as … Read more

Debunking "Accountability to Donors"

Nothing gets my teeth gnashing like the discussion of Donor Rights and Donor Accountability. It is such a dangerous sidetrack from where organizations must aim their primary accountability if we are to create an amazing future for our communities. And yet, the notion that organizations are primarily accountable to their donors prevails, and it is … Read more