What is Donor Bliss?

The Art and Science of Donor Bliss

Do you want to learn more about “Donor Bliss”?

Are you in the professional world of…

Fundraising?

Advancement Services?

Nonprofit Leadership?

If so, you will find the stories and practical guidance for donors to be insightful in your work.

Building and cultivating relationships

Donors partner for shared values

I contemplate innovative strategies for establishing and nurturing relationships that emphasize the importance of shared values between donors and nonprofits.

The connection between individuals and organizations lies in their common purpose and vision. People yearn to engage actively in philanthropic efforts that resonate with their values. Donors seek partnerships with institutions that reflect their beliefs, as they strive to address the needs of our world collaboratively.

In our role as relationship builders, it is essential to articulate a clear and compelling mission and vision. Actively listening to volunteers and potential donors to understand their interests and passions is critical. This engagement helps to forge deeper connections and aligns them with our work. By attracting and fostering relationships with partners who are equally passionate about our mission, we create a powerful synergy that not only enhances our efforts but also enriches the joy of giving for all involved.

Let’s spread the word about the Joy of Giving together!

A Donor Bliss Experience

Giving with joy

Each year, Eric has the privilege of recommending a recipient of the Lionel Billman Memorial Scholarship award at his hometown high school. Approximately 60 students receive scholarships annually, with many receiving multiple awards. These scholarships cover everything from book costs to full tuition.

In addition to a variety of memorial scholarships, awards are granted by organizations representing The Arts, Primary and Secondary Education, specific student activities, and a diverse range of community, regional, and national organizations.

The process of reviewing potential candidates for the Lionel Billman Memorial Scholarship has been a cherished tradition for us for many years. Reflecting Lionel’s deep commitment to his hometown, this scholarship is awarded to students who aspire to return and give back to their community after completing higher education.

Participating in the process each year reminds us at Donor Bliss Consulting of the profound joy found in family legacy giving. It is a privilege to be part of a long-standing tradition that honors family heritage while making a positive impact in the community.

Eric Billman presents the Lionel Billman Memorial Scholarship
(Cass County Community Foundation)

Quralew Co-op Wins Top Prize

Families and Giving

Earlham College Creative Capitalism Competition

Sometimes we just have to brag a little. Over the course of three months, we coached a team of students who had big plans for making an impact on employment and waste management in Ethiopia. Their team leader was a part of our lives for two school years and we were happy to share our strategic planning expertise with his team.

Their journey included many hours of working out the business numbers and preparing for incremental presentations. Along the way, they created a professional level two minute infomercial video and made a mock “Shark Tank” pitch. Three of the team were devoted members of the track team. Did I mention that they were also full time students and none of them business majors? One was also a freshman.

At the final competition, four other teams had great ideas in various stages of implementation. All competitors were passionate about their ideas for saving the world. We just about held our breath for the entire 20 minutes of our team’s presentation.

Please join us in congratulating the Quralew Co-op team on their first place win. They worked hard for it!

Magnifying Impact

Making Donor Bliss an Institutional Priority

Donors who desire to make an impact with their resources are on a life-long journey that typically includes numerous interactions with nonprofit institutions.
While describing this journey in this video on YouTube, Eric addresses the challenges institutions experience in engaging donors. 

At each step of the journey, Eric offers tips to institutions to encourage them to create positive experiences for their donors.

Eric weaves stories about joyful giving within this webinar as he advocates a goal of developing a culture of philanthropy within your organization. 

Millennials and Board Service

How do you engage this generation with your nonprofit efforts?
What should you do to engage them in board service?
Do you have two minutes to watch a video?

Eric answers these questions from the recent webinar recording session for US Trust Philanthropic Solutions Group.  In this YouTube video, he provides thoughtful insights gleaned from a survey of nonprofit peers from around the world.