Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

Are You Afraid Of Success?

Most of the time you simply don’t realize you are sabotaging your own success before you even give it a chance. How do you get over yourself?

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

The Elegance of Letting Go

When we are in the midst of a big campaign, severely understaffed, and overwhelmed, how can we even think about letting anything go? And if you think about it, how can you let go elegantly?

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

How Will You Find the Time?

Do you have trouble finding the time to do the things you need to?

Check out the two things I've learned that help me make time for the important stuff.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

Why Not Start Now?

What are your plans for your year-end appeal? Do you find the mere thought of this year’s year-end appeal terrifying? I suggest that the way to get that sinking feeling to go away is to start now.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Go It Alone

I’m a loner. I’m not lonely, I just like being alone. I also like being able to control everything myself. While this has been great for consistency of brand and message, it often sucks when I need to take big steps. So I’ve developed a list of things I have to do to remind myself that “alone” is always better.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

If You Want Money, Ask For It

What are you asking for? Now, those of you that know me well may have read that last question with a New York accent, and a slightly obnoxious attitude. I simply mean to get you to think about exactly what you are asking for. Especially when you’re asking for money.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

Time for a Mid-Year Review?

How have things gone since January? What goals would you like to achieve during the rest of the year? It’s important to take a breath and think about setting the stage for success in the coming months.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

Throw Yourself A Party

Those of us in nonprofit fundraising rarely get recognized for doing the hard work to make sure our organizations have the resources they need to fulfill their missions. So it’s important that we throw parties for ourselves.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

The Power of Overestimating

Do you ever think about how long something will take when you add it to your list of things to do? My guess is probably not. And so your desk ends up looking like this. Let me introduce you to the power of overestimating.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

The High Season Approaches

Here on Martha’s Vineyard–and Nantucket, Cape Cod, and other summer communities–we are gearing up for our “high season”.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

Presidential Elections & Nonprofit Fundraising

Here in the United States, another presidential election season has just begun. Many nonprofits worry that all the noise and political fundraising will overshadow their message, the needs of their clients, and their ability to raise resources. And if you live in a seasonal community, these worries can be magnified.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

Who Loves Fundraisers?

Fundraisers and development professionals raise the resources that change the world. Yet we are often treated like dial tone.

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Barbara Bellissimo Barbara Bellissimo

The Season Before Fundraising Season

It’s this time of year when we are busily finalizing plans for summer events. We are scrambling to set up meetings with donors and prospects during the limited time they will be on-Island. It can be frantic and overwhelming.

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