Julieann Thurlow

In honor of #CommunityBankingMonth, here are stories from 6 banks about how their work helps customers achieve their dreams. These banks are showing the true meaning of community in the latest issue of #IndependentBanker: https://lnkd.in/eJtE9FuT

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We made lasting connections at Excel 2024, the premier gathering for credit union professionals in New York state!    It was fantastic to reconnect with our clients and to exchange ideas with so many amazing credit union professionals. A big thank you to New York Credit Union Association for organizing such an incredible conference towards advancing the credit union movement by advocating, educating, uniting & supporting the interests of all credit unions in New York state.   Your efforts continue to inspire and strengthen the credit union community! #creditunions #automatedunderwriting #creditdecisions #aiunderwriting

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Discover the powerful change and growth highlighted in EVOLVE 23. This report showcases the impact CFP Board has had in shaping the future of financial planning for the benefit of the public. Flip through the report today: https://lnkd.in/e4hi2xGU #CFPpro

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Elevate your ministry's financial stability with our Church Line of Credit Guidebook. Learn how this adaptable funding can bridge gaps and support unexpected opportunities. #ChurchFinance #FinancialAgility #FaithBasedFunding https://lnkd.in/eWXN2Kce

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Welcome, Lisa! Your excitement and drive toward a brighter future are contagious. We look forward to expanding programming to provide more value across the financial advice ecosystem for the benefit of the public, advisors and the financial planning profession. #financialplanning

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For my #fundraising and #development friends and former colleagues, I found this to be an insightful piece, highlighting a recent report on the changes and trends reported in #GenZ donors. #alumni #campusfundraising #alumnidonations #nonprofitmanagement #alumnifundraising #campuscontributions https://lnkd.in/esuDrPZr

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Breaking Down Barriers for Microfinance and Financial Capability Month In honor of this special month, let's shine a spotlight on an issue close to our hearts: access to fair capital for historically marginalized communities. This holds great significance for us at Bridging Virginia, as it aligns deeply with our mission of facilitating opportunities for minority businesses to access affordable capital and technical assistance. Did you know? The 2021 U.S. Federal Reserve Report on Firms Owned by People of Color revealed that black-owned firms often struggle to secure the funding they need due to discriminatory lending practices. But here's the kicker: 63-76% of minority-owned and woman-owned firms seek loans under $100,000, yet these loans have decreased by 24% compared to GDP in recent years! 📉 Let's empower diverse entrepreneurs by promoting financial capability and access to microfinance resources. #MicrofinanceMonth #FinancialCapability #EmpowerEntrepreneurs

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In the last five years, the compound annual growth rate for contributions to a donor-advised fund (DAF) was 23.6%. What fuels the popularity of DAFs? In part, their simplicity and flexibility make them an attractive option for clients seeking an uncomplicated way to engage in philanthropy. Explore how your clients can give using a DAF: https://bit.ly/3JT7i2H #ForAdvisors #Advisors #Philanthropy

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Let's take a moment to clarify what #HospiceCare is and is NOT: https://lnkd.in/eNQ2nZMD Samaritan is #SouthJersey's #nonprofit #hospice.

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Check out this TRS podcast clip about financial literacy resources! Seek professional help or educate yourself with the resources available to you for your financial security. https://lnkd.in/euyxuA25

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Empowering Communities Through Financial Education: Proposed Maven Federal Credit Union's Commitment Introduction: Proposed - Maven Federal Credit Union is dedicated to building prosperous communities by fostering financial literacy and empowering individuals with knowledge. As part of our unwavering mission, we are excited to unveil our new financial education initiative that aims to equip our contributors and the broader community with the skills to make informed financial decisions. Financial Literacy: A Foundation for Community Prosperity: Financial literacy is the cornerstone of a thriving community. When individuals have a solid understanding of their finances, they can make wise decisions that impact their overall well-being. This knowledge empowers them to manage their money effectively, save for the future, achieve their financial goals, and contribute positively to the economy. Our Commitment to Education: At the Proposed Maven Federal Credit Union, we believe that financial literacy is a right, not a privilege. That's why we are launching a comprehensive financial education program that covers a wide range of topics, including: * Budgeting and money management * Credit and debt management * Saving and investing * Retirement planning * Identity theft protection Tailored to Diverse Needs: Our financial education initiatives are tailored to meet the diverse needs of our community. Whether you're a young professional, a family starting, or a senior citizen planning for retirement, we have resources designed to empower you. Community Partnerships: We are also partnering with local organizations, schools, and community centers to extend our reach and ensure that financial education is accessible to everyone in our community. Together, we will work towards creating a more financially literate and prosperous society. Join the Movement: We invite you to join our financial education movement and empower yourself with the knowledge to secure your financial future. Visit our website, attend our workshops, and engage with our financial literacy experts. Together, let's build a community where financial prosperity is within reach. Conclusion: Proposed - Maven Federal Credit Union is committed to investing in the financial well-being of our community. Our comprehensive financial education program aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions and achieve their financial goals. Join us on this journey towards a more prosperous and financially secure future. https://mavenfederal.org/

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Harold Pettigrew, Jr., President and CEO of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), shares his inspiring journey focused on community development finance and the critical role of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in an insightful interview with us. From securing $2.3 billion in capital to addressing climate challenges, Harold's leadership is transforming communities and creating opportunities nationwide. Don't miss his perspectives on the future of CDFIs, the importance of community-focused finance, and his vision for a more inclusive economy. Read the full interview here and discover how CDFIs are paving the way for sustainable and equitable growth: https://lnkd.in/eXkTPcRF

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As we further cement our commitment to creating simple, high-value solutions for personal financial management and control, this week we proudly launched a partnership with National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), the largest nonprofit debt management association in North America.   Our partnership with NFCC combines their decades of consumer financial education experience with Piere's rapidly advancing money management and personalized financial insights. Piere will be offered as a customizable solution for regaining financial control with ongoing insights, education, plus money and debt management tools to consumers who engage with the NFCC ecosystem, but aren't yet ready to connect with one of their 55 nationwide member agencies for credit counseling.   NFCC consumers coming to Piere will now have access to:   🤖 A single place to view all their account balances, transactions, spending, and income 🎯 Personalized debt insights within the app that provide users with corrective guidance 🗝 Expert guidance and tips for maintaining financial wellness   "This ensures we meet consumers where they are in their journey, so they have the guidance they need and can connect with an NFCC agency when they are ready for counseling. Together we can help people overcome financial challenges and regain control of their debt with help from NFCC Certified Credit Counselors," said Mike Croxson, CEO of NFCC. Throughout the partnership Piere and NFCC will work together to assist consumers in turning over a new leaf with joint financial education virtual community events, by offering personalized insights about an individual's debt using their live account and transactional data, then paired with actionable steps outlined in financial wellness articles, how-to guides, and upcoming debt management tools built into Piere. Yuval Shmul Shuminer, Founder and CEO of Piere, highlights that "Our goal is to equip users with comprehensive financial management solutions. This partnership with NFCC allows us to offer these essential tools to a wider audience, ensuring that more individuals have the resources they need to achieve financial control and freedom." Additional details of the partnership are highlighted at https://lnkd.in/d2N22hTA, with a full overview of how to take advantage of our combined efforts with NFCC on the Piere website at https://piere.com/nfcc.

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Educating Bosses and Boards About Setting Fundraising Goals First of all, its a huge issue - one that we all need to keep flagging as a major cause of: Donor attrition Staff turnover Donor fatigue Staff discouragement The erosion of our greater philanthropic potential So where's the best place to begin? Within your own data. I know from long and direct experience that there is no better way to change clients' outlook than to show them their own data. Particularly helpful are the histories of their previous major gifts including: How many years of giving preceded that donor's largest gift? How long it took from the time donors were approached with the idea for the major gift to the time they committed? These analyses invariably reveal that there is a long incubation period in development of loyal, generous donors. They also reveal a long gestation period in the birthing of major gifts, from the time an idea is introduced to the time the commitment is made. The average is two years but major gifts are like mammals - the larger the gift, the longer the gestation period. In addition, powerful trends can be seen in your annual giving including: A loss of donor volume A growing dependence on fewer donors giving increasingly more Large "annual gifts" secured in ways that are much more like major gift processes That dialogue and community building produce better results then one-way appeals If you are a young organization or don't have access to such data, request it from a colleague in a like organization or from those who contribute regularly to the field. It's in my books, articles and posts as well as those of my colleagues. If we are to better educate our bosses and boards, we need to start with ourselves. Second, we have to get over this notion that anything we suggest in the name of more informed goal setting is: Complaining Not being positive Unprofessional Just flip that around to see how ludicrous this sounds. "Well, I'm proud to say I maintained my cheerful, can do disposition in the face of steady donor loss and accelerating staff attrition." That's "professional"? Times to address goal setting include: When applying jobs When presented with KPIs During a performance review In requesting professional development or staff training In all these instances you can contrast current practice with more data-driven approaches. You can make it clear that you are positive about the mission and keen on advancing it but want to focus your efforts in ways that will produce the more significant, sustainable successes. Finally, we can't lose sight of a basic truth. You don't increase fundraising success by tasking fundraisers to get more money but by giving them evidence of how investment in your organization leads to higher service levels. Donors don't give because they're asked but because they are given compelling opportunities to make differences in ways they find personally meaningful and satisfying.

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Want the recording of our recent Free Connelly & Assoc. Fundraising Planned Giving Webinar with Rebecca Rothey, CFRE, CAP®, AEP®? (And PDFs of the Planned Giving Webinar deck, and Rebecca’s information sheet with planned giving vendor options?) E-mail me at vconnelly@connellyfundraising.com and I will send you the webinar recording link and related documents. Rebecca presented a fast-paced webinar packed with tips (but not tricks) for incorporating planned giving into your everyday fundraising. Rebecca offered strategies for external marketing, pipeline tracking and gift reporting, and included an overview of vendor resources for every budget. Simple examples of how to talk with donors about making a planned gift were shared. Equally important, strategies for internal marketing and story-telling were discussed. Thanks to Patti Santoni, Director, Philanthropy, Charlestown by Erickson Senior Living for joining us and presenting with Rebecca. Thanks as well to PJ Sawchuk and everyone at Epic Solution Partners for their assistance with our free webinar. Also: Register Now - 2 Free Happy Hours for all Fundraisers, Nonprofit Leaders & Friends - May 2 & May 23. (Each event has a separate registration.) Last chance to register for the May 2 event - Registration closes soon - Register Now - Free May 2 Maryland Nonprofits, UMB & SEA Networking Event for all Fundraisers, Nonprofit Leaders & Friends. Maryland Nonprofits is teaming up with their friends from University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) for a FREE networking event on Thursday, May 2 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Maryland Nonprofits, 1500 Union Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211, first floor. NEW EVENT LOCATION - LOCATION UPDATE - This event is no longer at UMB - it is now at Maryland Nonprofits. Both Maryland Nonprofits members and non-members are very welcome to join us. I am happy to be assisting my friends at Maryland Nonprofits with the promotion of their free event. To register for the Free May 2 Maryland Nonprofits, UMB & SEA Networking Event: https://lnkd.in/eUw67E8h Register Now - Another Free Happy Hour Networking Event on Thursday, May 23 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore for all Fundraisers, Nonprofit Leaders & Friends presented by Connelly & Assoc. Fundraising, Dinkel Business Development, Singer Damareck Real Estate, Epic Solution Partners, and Baltimore magazine. To register for our Free May 23 Happy Hour: https://lnkd.in/dXTd4nUR Save the Date - Thursday, Aug. 8 at M8 Beer in Baltimore - Another Free Connelly & Assoc. Fundraising Happy Hour Networking Event for all Fundraisers, Nonprofit Leaders & Friends - to benefit BARCS.

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"The ACT Deposit Program simplifies the process for businesses, nonprofits, community organisations, and high-net worth individuals to place at least $5m with a community development financial institution (CDFI) or minority depository institution (MDI) bank,” notes a recent YahooFinance article. Get the details about this innovative, community-building program here>> https://ow.ly/jEN050SaY0r #ACTDepositProgram

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