wild-horses

First Thing Tuesday

This BLOG is intended to help conservation organizations and land trusts pursue excellence in all aspects of their conservation endeavors. I welcome your comments and feedback to these posts.

  30 January 2024   By David Allen, Development for Conservation   One day, back in my TNC days, a donor walked in and told us that he was taking his company public and that he wanted to make a million-dollar gift. He was not unknown to us. He had...

  26 December 2023   “The future belongs to citizens who are passionate, knowledgeable, and engaged.”   - Richard Louv     Mr. Louv was almost certainly thinking more broadly than just conservation, but when I read this quote the first time, I read it through a conservation lens. There are many ways...

  19 December 2023   By David Allen, Development for Conservation   There exists a perception that conservation is for old people, that land trust constituencies are getting older, and that attracting young people has to be a strategic priority. And just like all perceptions, it’s partially true. I regularly screen...

  12 December 2023   By David Allen, Development for Conservation   I hope you’re pleased with yourself. I know that sounds critical, but I’m being serious. This is the time of the year when all the work you’ve put in really pays off. Every day brings a new snowfall of...

    5 December 2023   By David Allen, Development for Conservation   I think $250 is a magic number in fundraising. It’s a small enough number that everyone can afford it. Some will argue that point, but I’m talking about $20 a month – there aren't many people in the country...

  28 November 2023   By David Allen, Development for Conservation   I read somewhere that 70% of the money raised for charity every year is raised in November, December, and January. That doesn’t necessarily mean that 70% of donors give then, but it would be easy to believe. It...