The Monthly Leap - February 2025
How's everyone doing?
I'm sure many of you are feeling a sense of whiplash after the last couple of weeks. We're facing a lot of uncertainty as we move into 2025 and I know that many of you are exhausted. I'm right there with you and I'm not in the trenches of nonprofit work.
So I'm going to keep it simple again this month and once again share with you:
What's on my mind?
What's coming up?
A tip of the month
A quick request
I hope these emails give you a small glimpse into what's going on in my world, how you can connect with me, and some ideas for things you can implement in your organization.
Rikki
Owner / Founder
LEAP Nonprofit Consulting
What's on my mind?
A lot of way smarter people than me have responded to the news last week. But I wanted to share with all of you what I'm doing right now to stay focused on the important work at hand.
Taking deep breaths.
I know. I know. That's sounds really cliche. But sometimes it's all we can do. My husband and I have a thing where we will often just pause and say, "take a deep breath with me." If we're in-person when we need that breath, we look at one another as we do it. We even invited everyone at our wedding reception to take a deep breath with us as part of our speeches. There's something about that big, deep breath that really does slow things down for even a second so our brains, bodies, and hearts can catch up. So don't forget to do that right now, even when it feels like the literal smallest thing you can do.
Leaning into the idea of community.
We are not meant to be alone. So I'm leaning into community - both in-person and online. I'm attending the virtual meet-ups for groups I'm part of. I'm saying yes to invitations to meet friends out for dinner. I'm putting down the phone and actually talking to my husband at night instead of doom-scrolling or working on my computer. I'm being generous with my calendar because I genuinely want to help organizations navigate this mess. Whatever you need to do to connect with your people... do it.
Letting people in.
Similar to the last one, I'm really letting people in. I'm asking clients, friends, classmates, family, the acquaintance I run into at the grocery store how they are doing. And I'm really listening to the answer. And when they ask me, I'm really answering. For those of you who are working in the nonprofit sector, I urge you to do the same thing with the people you serve, as well as your donors, board members, and volunteers. Now is not the time to stick to small talk. It's an opportunity to build genuine connections with people.
The last thing I will say is that it truly doesn't matter what is going on in the world. The work your organizations does matters all of the time. Perhaps, now more than ever. Back in 2020, when it felt like the world was falling apart around us, I was working for an organization who was not afraid to acknowledge what was happening, while also refocusing on the what we knew worked--engaging donors authentically and sharing the impact of our work and the need for donations to make it possible. Just like five years ago, organizations who stay focused on basic best practices are going to weather this storm and come out stronger than ever.
What's coming up?
I love partnering with Forward Bank to provide free webinars to nonprofits throughout the state of Wisconsin. The next one is scheduled for February 25 at 10:00am and we'll be talking about Meeting Immediate Fundraising Needs. You can register online at: https://calendly.com/leapconsult/forward-immediate-fundraising-needs
I'm leading two sold-out workshops in partnership with Siebert Lutheran Foundation this month, one on securing & preparing for donor meetings and the other on inviting donors to invest in your organization. One of my former colleagues and dearest friends works for the foundation, plus a former client was one of their grantees, and I'm so impressed with how they support their grant partners. We need more funding organizations who operate as true partners, not just funders!
I'm talking to the UW-Milwaukee graduate level fundraising class, something I've done for the last several years. Anytime I can get in front of a room full of people (either in-person or virtual) and evangelize for this profession, I'm going to say yes!
We just kicked off the newest cohort of the Nonprofit Leadership Institute through Mid-State Technical College. This is likely my last semester leading this class for a bit and based on the interaction in our first class, it's a great last group to be working with!
I'm also kicking off two new client engagements, celebrating incredible success with one of my first clients, starting my second class of the semester for the doctoral program, prepping for the two conferences I'm presenting at in March, and generally trying to keep everything organized. If you're hoping to connect with me this month, I recommend finding time on my calendar now before it fills up completely. And if you can't find time that works, just reach out directly to see if I have something else available!
Tip of the Month
February is the perfect time to lean into loving on your donors. Not just because everyone is talking about Valentines Day. It's also just a cold month that feels way longer than its 28 days so it's the perfect time to sprinkle extra joy.
What does that look like for your organization? It's up to you!
Many years ago, I received a card in the mail for Valentines Day for an organization I supported, complete with a little chocolate heart inside. It was so surprising that I still think about it!
One of my favorite stewardship stories was the time a dog rescue called a colleague of mine in the middle of feeding the dogs lunch. If you have pets you know what that's like. They were barking, whining, and clearly excited. And the volunteer was just calling to tell my friend thank you for helping make that lunch possible. It was so surprising that I'll never forget it!
Spreading some love around could be as simple as sending a text just to let a donor know you are thinking of them. It could mean handmade Valentines from some of your clients. It could mean a quick video message to show off something new in your organization.
Whatever it is, this is the perfect month to share a special thank you with your donors, letting them know how much you appreciate them. It'll make their day. And i can guarantee it'll boost your mood too.
A Quick Request
Are there things you'd like me to talk about in the future? Please let me know. Between this blog, free online trainings I offer, and workshops I'll be presenting at conferences in the future, I want to make sure I'm meeting your needs.