What does the image of boot camp evoke for you? Exercise, sweating, military training, intensity? Probably all the above. According to a quick Google search: A boot camp workout is basically a type of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) -- bursts of intense activity alternated with intervals of lighter activity. For … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Disappointment When Raising Major Gifts
Fundraising can be full of frustration and disappointment. This is especially true when a donor doesn’t respond the way you'd hoped they would. There is a Bright Side to "No" However, there is a bright side to no. When you get a string of no’s, it could be a sign that you're being brave. And if you’re not getting any no’s, it’s definitely … [Read more...]
How to Tame the Scariest Part of Fundraising – The Ask
Asking for gifts can be scary. Especially if you’ve never done it before. There are many reasons fundraising is frightening. I can think of five right off the top of my head: Fear of rejection Fear of the unknown Fear of messing up the ask Fear of offending the donor Fear of saying something stupid If you’ve never asked for a … [Read more...]
8 Savvy Ways to Raise More Money in ANY Economy
Fall fundraising season is heating up. It’s normally the time nonprofits raise more than the rest of the year combined. But as the markets falter and uncertainty creeps in, you and your donors may be facing increasing anxiety about the economy. Relax -- you've got this. 8 Ways to Raise Money in ANY Enconomy If you're worried about the … [Read more...]
5 Times I Was Wrong About My Approach to Fundraising
The first decade of my fundraising career, I made many mistakes. Of course, mistakes aren’t necessarily bad if you take the opportunity to learn from them. Fortunately, I’m older and wiser now, and I hope you can learn from my own missteps. After 25 years of fundraising, I’ve learned a lot and am happy to pass along these tidbits to you. … [Read more...]
DON’T Do These 12 Things When Asking for a Major Gift
There are many things you “should” do when asking for major gifts. But because there are so many DO's, it might be easier to remember what NOT to do -- i.e., the DON'Ts. Many of the things on this list are things you're likely to already know. But you might forget to implement them in the hustle and bustle of your everyday work. Hopefully, … [Read more...]
The Secret Formula for Raising Major Gifts: 5 Key Components
Let's cut to the chase -- if you want to raise major gifts successfully, you need the right combination of five components: knowledge strategy persistence optimism courage That's it. I've just let you in on the "secret formula" -- and it probably seems pretty straightforward, right? 5 Key Components to Raising Major Gifts … [Read more...]
Why You Should Never Raise Major Gifts Alone
Fundraising is a team sport. You may have heard that expression before. And when it comes to major gift fundraising, that’s absolutely true. The more people on your team, the better you are likely to do. Conversely, if you are expected to raise money on your own, it will be harder to do by yourself than if you have the support and … [Read more...]
Asking Made Easy: The 1-2-3 Approach to Soliciting a Gift
Asking for a gift for your nonprofit is easier than you might think. The real challenging part is pushing past your fear of asking. Once you’ve decided to ask, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Getting Over Your Fear of Asking for a Gift Getting past the fear of asking is probably the hardest part of all. So let's take a little time to … [Read more...]
Fundraising in Times of Crisis: What Helps Ukraine Most Right Now?
As a fundraiser, I often wonder about crisis fundraising... Does giving to an organization like the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, or Save the Children help those impacted in real-time during all-out war? What about sending medical supplies or even teddy bears (as I’ve seen requested this week for the children of Ukraine)? What sort … [Read more...]
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