All Systems Go Consulting

06/16/2026

TL;DR: Your donors aren't customers. Treat them like shoppers and they'll leave like shoppers. Give them a reason to see themselves in your mission and they'll stay for years.

When someone buys, their brain asks "Do I want this?" When someone gives, it asks "Does this reflect who I am?"

Giving is an identity decision. So when we market to donors like shoppers (generic appeals, a thank-you that reads like a parking ticket), we act shocked when they wander off.

And it's sneaky: skip the follow-ups this spring and nothing bad happens this spring. You don't feel it until next year, when renewals dip and the development director gets grilled by the ED and board about why donors are leaving.

Good news: it's fixable. I wrote about the whole thing here 👇

Last month I wrote about why we're still bad at keeping donors, and why the fix is a system, not a rockstar hire.

05/26/2026

Network! Please share!

I can't believe there are still a bunch of seats open for this class: Build Your Own AI Assistant: Intro to Custom GPT's and AI Agents
https://lnkd.in/ewgGFXJv

Granted, it doesn't start till July 15. But get in now, I promise you this is going to be an amazing class.

Online. No driving. Learn in your jammies.
Super affordable, an amazing value.
2 Wednesday nights.
You can do this. 😁

There are also 5 seats still left in my more beginner AI class: AI for Everyday Productivity: Work Smarter at Work and at Home
https://lnkd.in/e2sqtbT3

This class starts in just a couple of weeks.
Again, online. Learn while eating ice cream in the tub, I don't care.
Again, great value at $99 for 3 Wednesday nights of pure knowledge. 😉

05/20/2026

AI is a polarizing topic, but it's so important that we talk about it.

I tell my clients and colleagues all the time: it's important to understand what you fear.

I'm teaching a virtual AI class through Bucks County Community College beginning on June 10. It will be an evening class, just 3 sessions, and it's very affordable and accessible.

Message me if you have questions about what we'll cover in this class.

Learn practical, easy-to-use ways to make AI useful in everyday life. In this beginner-friendly course, you&rsq...

05/20/2026

Your nonprofit may have larger gift opportunities sitting in your donor list. But before you start making bigger asks, it helps to make sure the basics are ready.

- Do you know who your top donor prospects are?
- Do you know what they care about?
- Is your board clear on how they can help without feeling like they’re being thrown into awkward fundraising conversations?
- Do you have a simple follow-up plan after the first meeting?
- Do you have a short impact brief you can share?

If you can't say yes to all of those questions, you need a Major Donor Readiness Sprint!

It’s a 4-6 week project for small and mid-sized nonprofits that know they need stronger donor relationships, but need structure before outreach.

You’ll walk away with:
- A Top 25–50 prospect list
- Donor profile template
- Major donor conversation guide
- One-page impact brief or mini case for support
- 90-day cultivation calendar
- Board/ED role map
- Stewardship checklist

This is not a full campaign, nor is it dependent on a wealth screening. And I am not stepping in as your outsourced gift officer.

It is a practical readiness project so your team can approach the right donors with confidence.

Message me if you want the details.

04/30/2026

I have some feelings about donor retention.

The latest FEP report is out, and once again, the numbers point to a familiar problem: we are still struggling to keep donors.

My take? We keep trying to staff our way out of a systems problem.

TL;DR: The FEP report confirms what many of us already know: nonprofits are still struggling to keep donors. Yes, the giving landscape is changing, and yes, wealth inequality and economic pressure are real forces.

04/21/2026

A couple years ago I wrote an article that was pretty critical of nonprofit galas. The ROI is low, it's largely transactional, poverty/client voyeurism, white saviorism and wealth celebration... They're all still concerns.

But I went to an event on Friday night that made me rethink what a gala can be.

Well done, Nova Bucks!

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-still-have-concerns-galas-saw-one-done-right-jean-holmes-sdzfe

03/25/2026

Sharing good news, a very good program to help people with mental illness get out of a cycle of incarceration.

03/17/2026

FREE TOOL ALERT

It ain't sexy, but protecting your organization is...

Your vendors may not be the same vendors you approved five years ago.

If they’ve added AI features, changed their terms, or changed how they handle your data, it may be time for another look. Use the free Vendor Privacy and AI Risk Review GPT linked directly below to review one of your current software tools, understand the findings, and generate smarter follow-up questions for the vendor.

As always, keep a "human in the loop" when you use AI, and check results before using them.

Here is the link to the GPT:
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69b891e91bcc81919bed3c262cd68036-vendor-privacy-ai-risk-reviewer

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WQEV4CZdjC0

Your vendors may not be the same vendors you approved five years ago.If they’ve added AI features, changed their terms, or changed how they handle your data,...

03/17/2026

What an honor to help Nova Bucks integrate and adopt AI into their organization responsibly and ethically.

NOVA is an incredibly important organization in our community, and their staff does difficult, critical work. If you're not familiar with them, learn more at www.novabucks.com.

Last week, NOVA had the privilege of welcoming back Jean Holmes of All Systems Go Consulting for an engaging staff training on the responsible use of AI in the workplace. As technology continues to evolve, it is more important than ever for organizations to understand both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with it.

The training encouraged staff to think critically about how AI tools can enhance our work while still protecting the trust, privacy, and dignity of the individuals and communities we serve.

We are grateful to Jean for sharing her expertise and helping our team continue to grow, learn, and adapt in ways that keep our mission at the center of everything we do.

03/16/2026

Want to learn AI Basics?

How it works?
How to use it safely and responsibly?
How to prompt REALLY effectively?

I'll be covering those subjects and more in a 6-week class I'm teaching at Bucks County Community College beginning on March 25.

It's a virtual, evening class so it's easy for anyone to join. Hope to see you there!

This 6-week online course gives you practical AI skills to...