In spite of economic upheaval, bold, innovative, and generous (BIG) people are recalibrating for a new era and helping to change the world. If you’re an individual, you can join ...
BIG Across America
John Wood and Room to Read – Educating Children to Change the World
John Wood didn’t have to quit his job at Microsoft where he ...
Betty Chinn – Homeless in China to a Hero in the USA
The seeds for Betty Chinn’s BIG journey took root in Communist China ...
Petra Nemcova – Rebuilding Communities after Natural Disasters
Petra Nemcova was enjoying a brilliant, sunny day with her fiance Simon ...
Recent Posts
Nonprofits Need to Separate Prospects from Suspects Before Pressing “Send”
My 18-year-old cousin recently received an email from a nonprofit, promoting the organization’s new planned giving web site and inviting him to register for a free webinar about the topic. After opting-out from the nonprofit’s mailing list, my cousin emailed me and asked, “Why would they send me this junk?” My reply, “Because you joined [...]
Rich Donors Would Give More If…
Wealthy philanthropists in the United Kingdom say they’d donate more if they had better tax incentives. So says a new survey by JP Morgan Private Bank. What does that mean for you, American development professional? It means you can attract more major gifts if your donor prospects can realize greater tax benefits. Isn’t that tough, [...]
Capacity is NOT a Scarce Resource
Fundraising professionals frequently describe the ideal donor as one who has inclination (a desire to support the cause) and capacity (the resources to give). Most also say, “We can’t do anything to increase a prospect’s capacity.” This may be the most dangerous and prevalent myth that infects nonprofits today. In fact, you CAN do something [...]
BIG People are “Leapers,” Not “Ladder-Climbers”
In order to be bold, innovative, and generous (BIG), you have to adopt a BIG mindset. The subtitle of our book, is “Rising Tide of Dreams to Action.” First comes the dream, then comes the action. It’s easy enough to dream, but what about action? I just read a blog post that draws a great [...]
Marketing to the Maybes – How Non-Profits Should Court Prospects
Imagine you’re single, looking for a new long-term relationship. You enter a room full of strangers and see someone whom you find attractive. You walk over, introduce yourself, and converse. You deliver some of your best material—funny anecdotes about yourself, details about your high-powered career, evidence of your passionate, yet sensitive side. The stranger is [...]
A New Definition for “BIG Business”
Is your business BIG? I don’t mean BIG in the sense of giant — like GE or IBM or Microsoft. I mean BIG as in bold, innovative, and generous. Whether you run a five-person operation out of a single room or a Fortune 500 behemoth with offices around the globe, your business will be better [...]
Katie Spotz – Rowing for Water
Now that she’s caught her breath after rowing her boat across the ocean, it’s time for Katie Spotz to give back. In March, Spotz completed her 70-day, 2,817-mile solo journey across the Atlantic from Senegal on the west coast of Africa to Guyana on the east coast of South America. Age 22 at the time, [...]
BIG Ideas: The Giving Pledge
Earlier this week. Warren Buffett announced that 40 of the wealthiest families or individuals in America have made “The Giving Pledge” to donate at least half their wealth to charitable causes. Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates launched The Giving Pledge program earlier this year to invite the wealthiest individuals and families in America to [...]
“Board Engagement” – A BIG Perspective
As we’ve often discussed, fund raising is far easier and more effective if you can tap into donors’ hearts so, for them, giving is an act of fulfillment, an act of feeding their passion. If you can connect their hearts and nurture their passion for your institution, they’ll be thinking, “How can I help?” rather [...]
Who are the bigger heroes: Baseball all-stars or no-names who do BIG Things?
A lot of big businesses have launched initiatives to encourage and celebrate BIG (bold, innovative, and generous) people or organizations. Pepsi has it’s Refresh Project. Chase has the Community Giving program. American Express has the Members Project®. My favorite is People Magazine’s All-Star’s Among Us. I tuned in to tonight’s all-star game to see Albert [...]
BIG Book
Your travel guide for your BIG journey. Inspiring stories of BIG people and how they did it. Guidance to help you achieve your BIG dreams. And connections so you can join the rising tide of dreams to action. More...BIG Across America
Bold, innovative and generous people are in every corner of America. We want to find them, celebrate them, and connect them with you. In the next few weeks and months, we plan to connect with BIG people in every congressional district in America.If you know people who are BIG, please share their stories with us.