Tim Boyd

If you’ve never asked for sponsorship or underwriting before, it can feel a little intimidating. Most people don’t grow up knowing how to do this. The good news is that it’s actually much simpler than it feels, and donors are often more open to it than you might expect. At its core, you are not asking someone to “help you pay for a speaker.” You are inviting someone to help make a high-impact fundraising event possible that will ultimately raise more money for your mission. Think of it less...

About a year ago I was sitting at a local community foundation for a networking event for nonprofits. It was one of those gatherings where you walk in not really knowing what to expect, but you hope something meaningful comes out of it. They broke us into four groups of about twenty people each, completely random. No sorting by cause or philosophy. Just a mix of people from all kinds of organizations. As we went around the circle introducing ourselves, something really beautiful started to...

I’ve stood in a lot of rooms. Church gyms with folding chairs that squeak every time someone shifts. Elegant hotel ballrooms where the forks are nicer than my first car. Community centers where the microphone works… most of the time. And after enough of those nights, you start to notice something pretty consistent. It’s not the décor that determines generosity. It’s not even the video, the lighting, or how fancy the dessert is. There are a handful of things that, when they’re done well,...