Welcome!
To prepare you to get the most out of the our time together, this course gives you key ideas and insights in a series of brief pieces.
Some of the pieces will add to your understanding of what’s coming. Others may influence your outlook on your work. Still others may prompt you to want to do something differently — or even stop doing something.
You’ll get access to one section each week, so keep an eye out for emails from me. (If you have a workshop coming up soon, you may get access more quickly … so you have a chance to see everything before we’re together.)
I expect you’ll find some inspiration along the way. If something you see here sparks a thought for you, perhaps take a moment to send me a note, so this can be more of a two-way conversation?
— Jim Lord
P.S. This course is for people who are making a difference in the world around them.
It draws on our experience working with people who have been philanthropically-active and civic leaders. The lessons learned — about human motivation among these people who “give away” their money and time — have wide application in any arena where we seek to see people move into action in making significant contributions.
Your progress in this course so far:
Course Content
Challenging Assumptions
Get a taste of what's possible when you question the conventional wisdom.
Three topics, 2-4 minutes each
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The Hidden Dangers of "Conventional Wisdom"
Are you open to new influences, new perspectives, new ways of thinking about things?
3 minutes
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Is "Moves Management" Misunderstood?
Some truths about human beings are both timeless and easily forgotten.
4 minutes
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People Want to Give, So Help Them Give
This makes the work of inviting investment so much easier (and an entirely different proposition than “fundraising” from the reluctant).
2 minutes
- The Hidden Dangers of "Conventional Wisdom" Are you open to new influences, new perspectives, new ways of thinking about things? 3 minutes
- Is "Moves Management" Misunderstood? Some truths about human beings are both timeless and easily forgotten. 4 minutes
- People Want to Give, So Help Them Give This makes the work of inviting investment so much easier (and an entirely different proposition than “fundraising” from the reluctant). 2 minutes
The Power of Questions
What can happen when we put away our presentations, forget the feasibility study, and postpone the case for support?
Three topics, 4-6 minutes each
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Why It Pays to Have More Questions Than Answers
It's dangerous to think we "know" how things work, what makes people tick.
4 minutes
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What Can Happen When We Put Away Our Presentations?
Go behind the scenes with Jay Hughes, high-level advisor and confidante to families of wealth.
6 minutes
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A Few of the Right Questions Lead to a Transformative Commitment
A high-engagement approach that skips the conventional feasibility study and case for support.
6 minutes
- Why It Pays to Have More Questions Than Answers It's dangerous to think we "know" how things work, what makes people tick. 4 minutes
- What Can Happen When We Put Away Our Presentations? Go behind the scenes with Jay Hughes, high-level advisor and confidante to families of wealth. 6 minutes
- A Few of the Right Questions Lead to a Transformative Commitment A high-engagement approach that skips the conventional feasibility study and case for support. 6 minutes
Bold Vision, Bold Action
Hope about the future — and confidence in our capacity to influence it — are fundamental to philanthropy.
Five topics, 3-7 minutes each
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Cultivating Hope and Confidence, the Bedrock of Philanthropy
Nurturing hope and inspiring confidence should be at the heart of every advancement program.
7 minutes
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Do You Start With "Feasibility" ... or With What You Want?
"We wanted the school, so we just kept finding ways to bring it to life."
3 minutes
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The Transformative Commitment
What happens if we pay special attention to a single donor who will make the greatest commitment in your institution's history?
4 minutes
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What Could Bold Money Do for Your Cause?
A board member speaks of a gift that forever changed both his life and the future of the institution.
4 minutes
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What Is Possible?
A tone of fashionable cynicism permeates our society ... but there are other voices, pointing us toward possibility.
4 minutes
- Cultivating Hope and Confidence, the Bedrock of Philanthropy Nurturing hope and inspiring confidence should be at the heart of every advancement program. 7 minutes
- Do You Start With "Feasibility" ... or With What You Want? "We wanted the school, so we just kept finding ways to bring it to life." 3 minutes
- The Transformative Commitment What happens if we pay special attention to a single donor who will make the greatest commitment in your institution's history? 4 minutes
- What Could Bold Money Do for Your Cause? A board member speaks of a gift that forever changed both his life and the future of the institution. 4 minutes
- What Is Possible? A tone of fashionable cynicism permeates our society ... but there are other voices, pointing us toward possibility. 4 minutes
The Heroic Journey
All of us engaged in the voluntary sector are being challenged to come to terms with our own heroism, to step up and make our greatest contribution to the world around us.
Four topics, 2-6 minutes each
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Value the Donor More Than the Donation
If you want to attract greater philanthropy to your organization, you’ll get farther if you move your attention from numbers to people.
2 minutes
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The Heroic Journey of Philanthropy
All of us engaged in the voluntary sector are being challenged to come to terms with our own heroism, to step up and make our greatest contribution to the world around us.
5 minutes
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An Antidote for Burn-Out?
“Sooner or later, all of us find ourselves at that fork in the road, where we can have an experience that changes everything."
6 minutes
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Is It Possible to Take the High Road?
Your presence becomes even more powerful when you choose a higher perspective -- when you show your confidence in the future and your belief in people.
2 minutes
- Value the Donor More Than the Donation If you want to attract greater philanthropy to your organization, you’ll get farther if you move your attention from numbers to people. 2 minutes
- The Heroic Journey of Philanthropy All of us engaged in the voluntary sector are being challenged to come to terms with our own heroism, to step up and make our greatest contribution to the world around us. 5 minutes
- An Antidote for Burn-Out? “Sooner or later, all of us find ourselves at that fork in the road, where we can have an experience that changes everything." 6 minutes
- Is It Possible to Take the High Road? Your presence becomes even more powerful when you choose a higher perspective -- when you show your confidence in the future and your belief in people. 2 minutes