Although I have not shared a thought piece in a while, that does not mean I haven’t been busy. I wanted to share a few updates from Carolyn’s Nonprofit Blog.

This summer, I updated my blog’s format to a new, more modern template. I also moved my disaster preparation articles and resource links to the main menu. And because some people in need reach out to me via my blog’s secure contact form, I also include a link in my main menu to HelpFinder by Aunt Bertha.

I have added a new article to my series, “A Brief Account.” The latest post concerns a working meeting with the late Tom Frost of Frost Bank and you will find the link below. For the update you are now reading, I share links to each individual brief account so you can easily access the discussions, sorted by the name of the person involved (alpha order).

Did you know:

When we read, brain networks involved in deciphering — or imagining — another person’s motives, and the areas involved in guessing what will happen next are activated, Neeley says. Imagining what drives other people — which feeds into our predictions — helps us see a situation from different perspectives. It can even shift our core beliefs, Neeley says, when we “come back out of the story world into regular life.”

Elena Renken for NPR, “How Stories Connect And Persuade Us: Unleashing The Brain Power Of Narrative”

These real life stories share what fundraising and working with philanthropists and public figures is actually like. I often say these are stories from “the trenches” of nonprofit fundraising. As the world has gone more “online,” professional fundraising staff have fewer chances to work as closely as I have with philanthropists and civic leaders. I hope that will change and a more “blended” approach – online and in-person meetings – will become the norm in the future. Each story focuses on normal development office tasks, from orchestrating special events to creating videos, from prospect research to finding just the right place for a donor meeting, from “asking” to assisting with estate planning.

• James Avery, “An Episcopalian Rockstar” | I am an Episcopalian and I had the good fortune to work with one of the legends of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.

• Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe Jr., “Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr. and the Boy Scouts of America” | I worked with the South Texas Council, Boy Scouts of America in the mid-2000s, and this story springs from that marvelous experience.

• Tom Frost, “‘This is the Best D— Thing I’ve Every Seen’ or Donor Screening Saves the Day” | This is my latest brief account and a very insightful one for the researchers and major gift fundraisers among us.

• Donald Judd, “Donald Judd and the Chinati Mountains” | This brief encounter with one of the world’s most influential artists focuses not on art, but on land.

• Fabio Lanzoni, “Fabio and Meetings Locations Matter” | This chance encounter with Fabio at a cafe in San Antonio is hilarious. I treasure the memory. I will forever regret not having my picture taken with him that day.

• Frank W. McBee, Jr. “A Fortune 500 CEO, Two Kittens and Asking” | This was my first “brief account” and it discusses how unplanned experiences can occur during carefully crafted “asking” meetings.

• Hugh McColl, “So, What Do You Want” | This “asking” tale underscores the need for fundraising professionals to be prepared. Mr. McColl asked the question very nicely, smiles.

• Edward W. “Rusty” Rose, “George Plimpton | Of Birding and Baseball (And Conservation)” | This brief account discusses how working with a sophisticated design firm on fundraising eventually led to an amazing evening in Dallas.

• Darrell Royal, “Darrell Royal and Willie Nelson” | This brief account discusses one of my earliest career experiences working with a donor who wished to honor a close friend. The memory of that deeply meaningful discussion in Coach Royal’s office is one I treasure still today.

• C. R. Smith, “The CEO of American Airlines and His Western Art Collection” | Before I began my career in nonprofit development, I had an amazing experience with one of the pioneers of American aviation at The University of Texas at Austin while in graduate school.

I hope your summer is going well. It is very hot here in Texas, and as a volunteer for Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the Austin Chapter, I have been busy sharing information about how our leaders can fix that. Follow my Twitter feed @cclatx and if you have questions, use the secure contact form to reach me.

Be safe and well.

Carolyn M. Appleton