Posts by Don Hasseltine

11 Steps to Prepare Yourself to Launch a New Job Search Right Now

The loss of revenue, the increase of unexpected expenses, and for some the decreased value of endowments due to coronavirus have left many nonprofits scrambling to make payroll. Unfortunately, the options to correct the financial challenges may include cutting salaries, furloughing staff, and laying off staff members. Aspen Leadership Group is one of the few search firms in the country offering free career counseling to nonprofit and advancement professionals and we offer 11 tips based on conversations and personal experience to help those affected prepare for their next job search.

Fundraising Best Practices Leadership and Management Talent Management 0Comments

Assess, Rethink, Reset: Retaining and Hiring Advancement Teams in the Midst of this Crisis

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by Don Hasseltine

Your ability to quickly reset your organization’s overall financial situation after COVID-19 will likely depend on attracting significant philanthropy. While all arms of your organization will make difficult sacrifices, your advancement team may be key to protecting your organization’s long-term viability, and you must work closely with leadership to assess, rethink, and reset critical staffing decisions.

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Coach’s Corner: 10 Ideas From 20 Vice Presidents to Move Your Program Through COVID-19

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by Don Hasseltine

As colleges and universities continue to work through the acute phase of the coronavirus crisis, Aspen Leadership Group saw a need to reach out to Vice Presidents to talk peer-to-peer and share challenges, successes, and ideas that could be shared more broadly. Don Hasseltine observed four key considerations for other advancement leaders as they enter the next phase of response, and collected innovative ideas to move forward.

Roundtable of advancement professionals at AADO Floyd Akins

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fundraising Best Practices Women's Philanthropy 0Comments

6 Shifts in Fundraising Practice You Will Not Want to Ignore

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by Don Hasseltine

Today’s speed of change will require leaders to find new ways to navigate this pace. My recent conversations with 12 VPs uncovered a shift in how they’re thinking about our work and its rapid evolution. As you enter planning season with your advancement team, keep the following six shifts in mind.

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13 Career Tips for Young Advancement Professionals

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by Don Hasseltine

There is no perfect professional pathway. You will make mistakes along the way. But these tips offer guidance for young professionals to smooth their path to creating a more satisfying professional career.

Older woman job candidate shakes hands in group interview

Applying and Interviewing Career Resources 0Comments

8 Steps to Overcoming Ageism in the Nonprofit Sector

Applying and Interviewing Career Resources 0Comments

by Don Hasseltine

Candidates over 50 years old are experiencing a headwind when trying to secure their next role in the nonprofit sector. There are too many incidents of strong candidates who bring a wealth of experience and the ability to raise the bar of performance but who do not get hired. Is it possible to improve the hiring odds for these qualified candidates? And does this fall to the hiring organization, or are older candidates actually doing the best job they can to be viewed in the most positive way possible? This Coach’s Corner offers insights from both perspectives – hiring manager and candidate – and 8 recommendations about how candidates can better position themselves to land their next position.

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Culture of Philanthropy: What is it?

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by Don Hasseltine

Our profession talks a lot about creating a “culture of philanthropy,” usually disguised as part of a conversation about how certain groups are not giving to expectations. Whatever your circumstances, there is a way for these groups to build a stronger culture of philanthropy. The first step is to recognize that it’s not specifically about giving, but about setting the conditions for giving.

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What is a Management Philosophy, and Should I Have One?

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by Don Hasseltine

Seldom does promotion come with a corresponding investment in management training. You do not need to look far to find studies pointing to how poor management is the top reason for staff turnover. After many years of managing people, few things have been more effective in making me a better manager than writing out my management philosophy. Why does having a management philosophy work?

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Do your President and Deans Know How Many Days a Year you have to Fundraise?

Fundraising Best Practices Leadership and Management 0Comments

by Don Hasseltine

Do your President and Deans know how many days a year you have to fundraise? I bet they will be surprised by the answer. Recently a senior university advancement leader wanted to know how best to educate the deans about how limited the fundraisers time was to actually do the work of raising money. So how many days in a year do you actually have to meet prospects and raise money?

Career Resources Fundraising Best Practices Leadership and Management Talent Management 0Comments

Welcome to Coach’s Corner

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by Don Hasseltine

After 25 years serving in higher ed advancement leadership, my life’s work is now focused on coaching nonprofit leaders, finding great talent for an organization, and partnering to solve a myriad of organizational issues. I am launching Coach’s Corner to complement this work, share what I am learning, and present strategic questions from leaders in the field and insights about how to address them.

Author page: Don Hasseltine

11 Steps to Prepare Yourself to Launch a New Job Search Right Now

Assess, Rethink, Reset: Retaining and Hiring Advancement Teams in the Midst of this Crisis

Coach’s Corner: 10 Ideas From 20 Vice Presidents to Move Your Program Through COVID-19

6 Shifts in Fundraising Practice You Will Not Want to Ignore

13 Career Tips for Young Advancement Professionals

8 Steps to Overcoming Ageism in the Nonprofit Sector

Culture of Philanthropy: What is it?

What is a Management Philosophy, and Should I Have One?

Do your President and Deans Know How Many Days a Year you have to Fundraise?

Welcome to Coach’s Corner

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