January 2018

Bob Hartsook’s Billion-dollar Fundraising Career Expands with New Emphasis on Research

Over the last 30 years, Bob Hartsook has established one of the country’s most successful fundraising consulting firms and helped more than 6,000 clients raise $231 billion. Though it was clear from the start that his career would be defined by leadership, it was only after successful stints in higher education and nonprofit management that he discovered the unique way he’d help organizations realize their potential. Go here to read the complete article.

Louisiana Food Bank Enlists Kinetic

The Food Bank of North West Louisiana (Shreveport, La.) has enlisted Hartsook to assist with its initial fundraising goals for foundation research and development. The mission of the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana is to serve as the primary resource for fighting hunger in Northwest Louisiana. The organization began in 1995 when a group of individuals from churches with food pantries and benevolent organizations met to discuss the need to establish a local food bank to serve the parishes of Northwest Louisiana. It opened in 1997 and became affiliated with Feeding America in 2003.

University Seeks Support to Attain Its Fundraising Goals

East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, Tenn.) is developing a world-class environment to enhance student success and improve the quality of life in the region and beyond. The University has retained Kinetic to conduct a pre-campaign study to support its fundraising goals. East Tennessee State University provides a student-centered community of learning, reflecting high standards and promoting a balance of liberal arts and professional preparation, and continuous improvement.

Remembering, Interpreting and Understanding the Great War

National World War I Museum and Memorial (Kansas City) has extended its contract with Kinetic into 2018. The Museum’s successful $25 million campaign will be followed by a larger campaign this year. The organization is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.

Oklahoma Youth Organization Contracts with Kinetic

Boys & Girls Clubs of McAlester (McAlester, Okla.) has contracted with Kinetic to conduct a campaign study and provide campaign management for the organization. Boys & Girls Clubs began in McAlester in 1963. The nonprofit believes that making everlasting change starts with one child at a time, and its programs and services are supported by initiatives and campaigns to help raise awareness and positively impact the youth they serve.

Seminary Extends Contract with Kinetic for a Campaign: Personal. Global. Horizonal.

Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Shawnee, Kan.) has extended its contract with Kinetic to provide campaign management for its campaign: Personal. Global. Horizonal. to provide support for students and scholarships, ministry with underserved populations, and continued program innovations for scholars and leaders.

Charitable Giving Around the World: Thoughts on How to Expand the Pie

CESIfo Economic Studies, List, John A and Michael Price

One fact that has emerged in modern societies is that people help others. Whether it is donating a few dollars to help feed the poor or volunteering time to help rebuild someone’s life after a natural disaster, people around the globe commonly lend a hand. This study provides an overview of that support, summarizing gifts of both time and money around the globe. We also highlight research that indicates useful ways in which we can enhance the charitable pie. Our discussion revolves around both individual giving and corporate philanthropy, but we focus on empirical insights from recent charitable fundraising field experiments in the Western World. We present information that is useful for policymakers, fundraising practitioners, and academicians.

Go here to read this article in full.

John A. List is the Visiting Robert F. Kinetic Chair in Fundraising at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He is a world leader in experimental economics, and The Kenneth Griffin Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Chairman of the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. List is a pioneer in scientific methods used for testing economic theory directly in the marketplace.

Book Deal of the Month

Hartsook has pushed and challenged the status quo, and nobody in the world has had a greater impact on the fundraising profession than Bob Hartsook. The strategies shared in $231 Billion Raised and Counting are the culmination of Bob’s many years as a fundraiser, consultant, and philanthropist – as he and co-authors Matthew J. Beem and Karin Cox bring together insights from the many consultants who make up the extraordinary Kinetic team. Go here to purchase your copy for a special price of $10 (plus shipping and handling).

Ask Kinetic!

Do you have a tough fundraising question?
Send your questions to askhartsook@kineticfundraising.com. We will respond by email and your question may be featured in a future Philanthropy Success.

QUESTION: How do I know if I’m doing I can to lead our nonprofit to fundraising success?

There are countless things nonprofit could and should be doing, but another way to ask this question is: “How do I know if I’m doing things I shouldn’t be doing?” If you do any of these things on a regular basis, there are probably changes you can implement immediately that will help your organization be more successful in its fundraising. Do you find yourself defending the way you do things (even when you aren’t hitting your benchmark goals)? Do you tend to complain about lack of board leadership? Do you get angry when people don’t give as you expect them to? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is a good place to start. Ask yourself, “Why … do I do these things?” This could be a very enlightening process on how to do things differently this year.

Strategies for Success: Somebody is Making Money… All the Time

During every recession and economical setback since the 1970s – three times in the ’80s, another three in the ’90s, and twice since 2000 – Hartsook has continued to raise more money with its clients than any of its competitors. Here’s why: We don’t follow trends. We swim upstream. Go here to read more.

Kinetic’s Growing Philanthropy Tour

Kinetic speakers are members of the Kinetic team of professional fundraising consultants who have, in their collective careers, raised more than $231 billion and counting in their 300-plus years of experience. Click here to see upcoming Growing Philanthropy Tour presentations. To view a sample of past presentations, click here. To schedule a Kinetic consultant to speak at your conference or organization, email Tammy at tammy@kineticfundraising.com.

Looking for a Rewarding Career?

Kinetic Fundraising, Inc. expects to attract at least one hundred new fundraising managers over the next 36 months. Onsite fundraising managers will be deployed to projects throughout the United States and eventually in Europe, Australia, Canada, Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Kinetic is beginning the process of attracting those interested in joining the world’s largest fundraising consulting practice. Placements will support fundraising for visual and performing arts, education, youth development, safety net, healthcare and international engagement organizations. If you are interested in learning more, contact Danny Kohrs, Vice President of Operations at dkohrs@kineticfundraising.com.