The document discusses the need for more imaginative and courageous communications in donor relations through innovation and embracing failure. It advocates avoiding outdated approaches and instead focusing on storytelling, creativity in packaging information, and presenting content in a way that captivates audiences. The goal is to challenge conventional wisdom and move practices forward through innovative approaches.

1. NEXT PRACTICES: THE PARADIGM
SHIFT IN DONOR RELATIONS
Lynne M. Wester
@donorguru

3. Donor Relations
Stewardship and
Impact reporting
Acknowledgment Recognition Engagement
Retention
Growth Influence
Nondonors

4. Too Much Looks Like Everything Else

5. Why Not?

6. Creativity + Implementation =
Innovation
“The Bad Clip Art Slide”

7. We innovate not for the sake of
being different but because it
challenges us to move forward and
shed the old guards of the past
while challenging conventional
wisdom.

8. FAILURE
• For every failure we had we had spreadsheets
that looked awesome.
• “ If anything goes bad then I did it. If anything
goes semi-good then we did it. If anything
goes real good then you did it.”
– Bear Bryant

9. Who Are You?

10. Decision Time

11. WE NEED:
• More imaginative and courageous
communications
• All we need to do is to write
brilliantly, package it superbly, and to present
it in a way that will captivate, thrill and inspire

12. 12
Theory

14. In Practice at

15. It’s not about You!

16. Making Print Magical
16

17. The Power of Storytelling

18. WE MUST NOT:

19. Avoid… ODWGS

20. Avoid…

21. Be Brilliant!

22. INSTEAD:

23. Changing the Face of Communication

24. THANK YOU!
• Lynne M. Wester
• @donorguru
• Friend Me!
• Connect with me!
• www.donorrelationsguru.com
• wester@yu.edu