During the year-end holiday period, I usually find it a good time to reflect back on the previous 12 months and think ahead to the new year. With the wild ride that has been 2020, I’m enjoying the moment to catch my breath. I hope you’re able to do the same.
As I look back over 2020, I thought I would take a bit of time to share with you some items you might have missed during your busy, crazy year.
My Top Blog Posts:
First, because I recognize that you can’t read everything that crosses your desk, I’ve put together a list of my top ten most-read posts published in 2020, in case you’ve missed any of them:
Legacy Fundraising: The Best of Times or the Worst of Times?
How will Coronavirus Affect Your Fundraising Efforts?
What Can You Learn from “The Naked Philanthropist”?
New Charitable Giving Incentives in CARES Act
Listen to The Whiny Donor and Raise More Money
Coronavirus: 20 Survival Tips for You and Your Charity
10 Fundraising Strategies for Complex & Major Gifts During COVID-19
Is the AFP International Conference in Jeopardy?
Warning Signs You Need to Know About
Amy Coney Barrett Knows Something You Need to Know
Now, I want to give you a list of five of my older posts that remained popular in 2020:
Can a Nonprofit Return a Donor’s Gift?
Can You Spot a Child Molester? Discover the Warning Signs
Here is One Word You Should Stop Using
Get More Repeat Gifts: The Rule of 7 Thank Yous
We All We Got. We All We Need.
I invite you to read any posts that might interest you by clicking on the title above. You can also search this blog by topic using the site’s search function (either in the right column or below).
Blog Site Recognition:
Over the years, I’ve been honored to have my blog recognized by respected peers. I’m pleased that, among the thousands of nonprofit and 
fundraising sites, my blog continues to be ranked as a “Top 75 Fundraising Blog” – Feedspot, “Top Fundraising Blogs 2020” – Garecht Fundraising Associates, “Best Fundraising Blogs for 2020” – Future Fundraising Now.
To make sure you don’t miss any of my future posts, please take a moment to subscribe to this site for free in the designated spot in the column to the right (or, on mobile platforms, below). You can subscribe with peace of mind knowing that I will respect your privacy. As a special bonus for you as a new subscriber, I’ll send you a link to a free e-book from philanthropy researcher Russell James, JD, PhD, CFP®.
Special Projects:
In 2020, I was honored to have the opportunity to participate in four special projects:
Article for SEI Knowledge Center: “Charitable Giving 2020: COVID-19 and Politics Make a Play” (FREE)
White Paper with Rogaré: “Ethics of Legacy Fundraising During Emergencies” (FREE)
Best-selling Book — Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing:
This year was also another good year for my book, Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing. The book continues to be a highly-rated Amazon bestseller. Winner of the AFP/Skystone Partners Prize for Research in Fundraising and Philanthropy and listed on the official CFRE International Resource Reading List, it continues to be a relevant resource for fundraisers who want to start or grow a successful planned giving program.
A LinkedIn Discussion Group for You:
To make finding interesting blog posts by others a bit easier, you might want to join the LinkedIn Discussion Group I created: Blog Posts for Fundraising Pros & Nonprofit Managers.
This is a LinkedIn Group for blog authors and the fundraising professionals and nonprofit managers who read them. Bloggers can promote their latest posts and readers can easily find those that interest them most and engage in thoughtful conversation, all in one place. This site provides a welcoming environment for blog authors where they can freely promote their posts. It is also a safe place for readers who may not want to subscribe to multiple blog sites but who want to easily scan the great information that is available across blogs.
Where Readers Reside:
I also want to take this opportunity to thank you and all of my readers. I’m pleased to know that I have readers from around the world. While I certainly appreciate all of my readers, I thought it would be interesting to look, beyond the United States, to see my top five countries for readership:
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- India
- Philippines
Feedback from Readers:
Just as I value all of my readers, I also greatly appreciate those who take the time to “Like” my posts, share my posts, Tweet my posts, re-blog my posts, and comment on my posts. Writing is a rather lonely activity. So, I particularly enjoy it when folks comment, even if I don’t necessarily agree. I like the conversations. I welcome the additional insights. I appreciate being made to think a bit more deeply. I invite all of my readers to join the conversation.
If there’s a topic you’d like to see me address in 2021, please let me know. I take requests. A number of my posts in 2020 were inspired by reader requests and inquiries. So, let me hear from you. I’m here to help you.
Speaking Engagements:
If you’d like to hear me present a seminar, look for my announcements regarding upcoming speaking engagements and webinars. In 2020, I had the opportunity to teach people around the world. I’m looking forward to another busy year of helping the nonprofit community. If you’d like to have me as a speaker for your professional group or nonprofit organization, please contact me to discuss how I can create a program to meet your specific needs.
Personal Health Update:
Now, because many people have asked about my health situation, I’ll take this opportunity to share a personal update. Nearly seven years ago, I was diagnosed with an exceedingly rare, slowly progressing, life-threatening cancer: Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP). It’s the disease that killed actor Audrey Hepburn. One does not beat or eradicate this cancer. Instead, one manages it and lives with it for as long as possible. So far, I’ve had two 14-hour surgeries and two related, though less dramatic, surgeries. I’ve also had extensive periods of chemotherapy treatment to slow the cancer’s growth.
After receiving chemo for much of 2020, my cancer was sufficiently stable for me to take a chemo break beginning in mid-November. If my late January CT Scan shows that the cancer is remaining stable, my chemo break might be extended. The idea is to put off the need for another massive surgery for as long as possible. Toward that end, a minimally invasive clinical trial that should be available in 2021 promises to offer a treatment that can significantly delay the need for surgery.
In addition to the traditional treatments (e.g., surgery and chemo), I’ve added two complementary treatments. I’m receiving regular Mistletoe Extract injections. This well-researched complementary therapy is commonly used in Europe to combat chemo side-effects, make chemo more effective, and fight the cancer directly. In addition, I’m taking massive doses of Melatonin which research shows has cancer-fighting properties. Both of these treatments are medically supervised.
The bottom line at this point, though it varies somewhat day-to-day, is that I’m doing well and making the most of my personal and professional time. If you or a loved one has PMP, please feel free to contact me if you want to talk. For anyone interested in learning more about my journey, just search this blog for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei. I’ve been open about my experience in the hope that it might be of some help to others.
How Can I Help You Be More Successful?
For 2021, I’m accepting a limited number of new clients and speaking engagements. If I can be of any assistance to you, I invite you to contact me. As a “Top 25 Fundraising Expert,” my areas of specialization include planned gift marketing, telephone fundraising, annual funds, ethics, and staff and board training.
My New Year Wishes for You:
Finally, I have four wishes for you in 2021:
- May you be happy.
- May you be healthy.
- May you be safe.
- May you live life with ease.
That’s what Michael Rosen says… What do you say?
Michael Rosen Says... 
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