The new year is an opportune time to create a fundraising plan.

In the spirit of the new year, I thought I would suggest some New Year’s Resolutions that you – the development professional – might consider to make this year your best one yet.

In a profession where the demand outstrips the supply of professionals, we cannot afford to burnout the people working in it. Instead, we need to care for ourselves and each other so we can continue to effectively serve our missions.

Leadership does not mean that you hold a position of power or authority; it means that you have the capacity to identify and influence needed change in your organization. Learn how you can build your capacity for leadership regardless of where you sit on the organization's hierarchy.

Using the work of Jim Collins in his book Good to Great, this week's #FundraisingFriday talks about how to develop your team to maximize your organization's effectiveness today and for years to come.

Last week we talked about the importance of retaining donors. This week hear a case study of an organization to whom I made a first gift who has done a phenomenal job of stewarding that gift, making me -- and most of their donors -- much more likely to make subsequent gifts.