The For Impact Experience - Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits

What: Spend the morning with Major Gifts Guru and For Impact Founder Tom Suddes, who has raised more than $1 billion for causes around the world. This "non-workshop" will challenge the traditional social sector paradigm, offering tools from successful entrepreneurs, salesmen, and visionaries. Most importantly, it will give participants practical and field-tested ideas with "how-to" instruction to make a quantum leap in funding. Attendees will leave with practical tools, a funding roadmap, and plenty of real-life examples. Enjoy Tom's blunt, simple, "tested-in-the-ring" style and an immediate return-on-investment.

When: Mar 10, 2011

I have to confess that after attending this workshop, I wish this had been like a 2-day workshop. I got so fired up about his message, I could barely explain it to my coworker and my husband. I'll be starting from scratch when I open my nonprofit. With the information he gave us, I can start fresh. I don't have to change my whole way of thinking like he was telling everyone else, because by the time I'm ready to open my nonprofit, I'll already be thinking this way.

Takeaways:

I learned some new words:

~ The Board is not responsible for fundraising  - They are responsible for CHAMPIONING the cause and the case, INVITING others to get involved and engaged, and INVESTING with a commensurate commitment (to help fund the vision).

~ No more special events - only memorable or transforming experiences.

~ No appointments - only live "engagements".

~ Your job is not to beg for money, but to talk about impact

~ Establish credibility

~ You don't have to be good, you just have to be out there

~ When "engaging", sit shoulder to shoulder

~ The better you talk about your mission, the more money you'll get.

~ Present opportunities

~ What do you do? Why do you do it? Where does the money go?

~ From success to significance. Find people with long arms.

~ Create $1000 Leadership Society (something more geared to writing, like the Pen and Quill Society)

~ Just ask

~ Build ideal profile of perfect prospect: identify--prioritize--stragegize

~ Consider women as prospects.

~ Create Angel Investing model

~ Best sales tip of all time: Ask question, listen to answer

THINK BIG

BUILD SIMPLE

ACT NOW

~ Visual business model rather than a business plan


And most importantly

IMPACT drives INCOME

If I could afford to, I would attend all the workshops from the Suddes Group. As it is, they have now been added to my blogroll. I learned so much from Tom it's not even funny.