Kalamazoo Public Library’s OnePlace programing recently livestreamed “A Better Normal: Reimagining Nonprofit and Philanthropy with Vu Le,” where more than 300 people gathered virtually to challenge ineffective philosophies and practices in the non-profit and...
10 Key Ingredients of Successful Boards
Creating and maintaining a well-balanced, effective board for your organization doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are 10 'ingredients' of well functioning boards: The Board Takes Responsibility. This includes having a Governance Committee to focus on pieces like...
Intern Spotlight: Mario Vargas
Meet Mario Vargas! Mario is a senior at Grand Valley State University, graduating spring 2023 with a Bachelor's Degree in Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration with a minor in Sociology. Mario completed 2 semesters as an intern with Kennari in December 2022....
The Best Piece of Fundraising Advice
We asked each one of the team members at Kennari Consulting the following question: What is the single best piece of advice you would give a nonprofit organization that wants to strengthen their fundraising efforts? Here are our answers: Megan Brodie - Be intentional...
7 Takeaways from our latest Roundtable: Applying DEI Practices in Nonprofits
Any goals toward diversity, equity, and inclusion should drive your processes and practices. We recently sat down with a panel of community representatives who shared lessons and anecdotes from their own work in this space.
New Team Member: Kelly Yagiela
Meet Kelly Yagiela! Kelly comes to Kennari with her most recent experience as Fund Development Specialist at Milestone Senior Services, where she was responsible for their grant portfolio and has also been supporting their capital campaign and annual giving. She has a...
Client Tour Spotlight: Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
As an intern, I was grateful to be given the opportunity to get a tour by McKenzie Rounds, Donor Relations Manager at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. The Civic Theatre, located in Downtown Grand Rapids, is one the oldest and largest growing community theatres in the...
4 Ways to Appreciate a Donor – Right Now
Do you have half an hour to spare? Five minutes? With the ongoing needs and goals of one’s development department, it’s easy to forget about the simple ways in which we can take a moment or two to appreciate your supporters. According to Bloomerang, there are various...
Best Practices for Managing a Grant Award
Grants can be a great way to raise funds for your organization, but many grants are time-consuming to prepare and submit. Further, the work doesn’t always stop after a grant is submitted. While being awarded a grant is exciting, receiving a grant award can bring with...
Staff Perspectives: The Young Professionals of Color Conference (YPCC)
The Young Professionals of Color Conference (YPCC) grows diversity and inclusion efforts in the business community by creating a space for young professionals of color to gather and engage with peers and leaders in the Grand Rapids community. YPCC's annual conference...
Donor Segmenting – Take Your Communications to the Next Level
Business intelligence concept. Big data analytics, chart and graph icons and female hands typing on laptop. Kennari President and CEO, Laura Kruisenga, recently presented a webinar with our partner QGiv on the Basics of Donor Segmentation. Based on the response we...
The Power of Words in Fundraising
In fundraising, and in life, we are often asked to talk about ourselves and the work we do. Words help us communicate ideas and thoughts to others, and shape how we understand and create meaningful relationships with people, our emotions, and lived experiences....
Marissa Acevedo: From Intern to Staff
I had the opportunity to intern for Kennari Consulting during my last semester at Grand Valley State University in the winter of 2022. During my intern experience with the Kennari team, I was immersed into the nonprofit fundraising consulting world that consisted of...
Kennari Consulting Founder, Sandi Frost Steensma, Publishes New Book
The Giving Garden, launched this month, is the first book written by Sandi Frost Steensma, Founder of Kennari Consulting. With over 30 years of experience in fundraising and public service, Sandi offers a unique and comprehensive perspective and valuable insights for...
Compensation & Benefits Survey from Michigan Nonprofits Association (MNA) – Ends May 31!
The Michigan Nonprofit Association has partnered with Association TRENDS to conduct a confidential compensation and benefits survey. It is FREE to participate, and all participants will receive a significant discount on the final report later in the summer of 2022....
Spring Cleaning Your Database
Does your database spark joy? Are you a “clean it now” type of person? Or are you a procrastinator? Your database system is only as good as what you put in there. Regardless of your current data cleaning regimen, we have some guidelines to keep in mind while...
Intern Spotlight: Marissa Acevedo
Meet Marissa Acevedo! Marissa is a senior at Grand Valley State University, graduating this month with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Communications with a minor in Psychology. Marissa Acevedo, Kennari Spring Intern, 2022 My time with Kennari Consulting has...
5 Ways an Administrative Team Member Can Save Time for Your Organization
What will jumpstart your fundraising efforts? Is it leadership? Board involvement? A seasoned Development Director? Well -- all of these components are great, but without a sharp administrative staff person, your efforts can lag and become easily bogged down. We know....
A Conversation with Kennari President & CEO, Laura Kruisenga
Laura Kruisenga, Kennari President & CEO (left) with the Kennari Consulting Leadership team.
Key Benefits of a Feasibility Study
If you are in the midst of defining and discussing a new campaign, feasibility studies can help identify the factors that can lead to its success. A feasibility study is an assessment that determines the level of potential support for your campaign and/or project....