As fundraisers, we wish donors would focus on the IMPACT of our work -- not the operating costs. And yet, sometimes, as nonprofit leaders, we’re focused on the wrong things too. Focus on Impact, Not Fees: A Personal Example Recently, I was contacted about consulting by a development director named Sam. Sam had already interviewed several … [Read more...]
3 Critically Important Ways of Measuring Fundraising Success
The most obvious way of measuring fundraising success is dollars raised. However, when your boss and board only focus on dollars raised, they miss a huge piece of the picture -- and that can have serious consequences. Let’s take the example of a new Development Director named Sasha. Sasha's Story: Is She Doing a Great Job? In her first … [Read more...]
16 Tools and Apps for the (non)Tech-Savvy Fundraiser
Like it or not, technology is here to stay. What's more, it's changing at an ever-increasing pace. Sure, technology can be detrimental to your productivity and personal life. But when used well, it can enhance your life and make your work as a fundraiser easier and more efficient. Technology As a Time-Saver Are you the type of person … [Read more...]
8 Tips for a Super Successful #GivingTuesday
To #GivingTuesday or Not to #GivingTuesday? That is the question. What is #GivingTuesday? In case you’re brand new to fundraising or have been living off the grid for the last 10 years, you’re likely familiar with #GivingTuesday. It's the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #BlackFriday, and #CyberMonday. According to the GivingTuesday … [Read more...]
3 Surefire Ways to Build Your Resilience and Fundraising Confidence
Being a great fundraiser requires RESILIENCE. There’s a lot of rejection in fundraising and hearing "no" over and over can take a toll. Fundraising is part art, part science. There isn’t only one right way to ask for money. Trial and error is par for the course. That’s because fundraising involves humans. And humans have emotions. In … [Read more...]
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Nonprofit Leadership
If you’ve ever heard me speak before, you know how passionate I am about fundraising and nonprofit leadership. My “no-nonsense” attitude comes across loud and clear about board members’ roles and responsibilities with regard to giving, as well as the Executive Director’s important role in fundraising. The following might seem more like a … [Read more...]
Attention Funders and Fundraisers: Capacity Building is Key
Here’s the message of today’s post: Think BIG. Think LONG TERM. Are you changing the world (or your corner of it, at least) by fulfilling your mission? How are you making sure your organization is GROWING? Well, you can't grow effectively when your own donors are limiting your growth. It infuriates me... I’m tired of … [Read more...]
8 Ways Your Board Can Fundraise Without Asking
Can you guess the number one complaint I hear from Executive Directors and Development Directors? Their top complaint is that their board members do not help with fundraising. How about you? Do you have board members who just won’t fundraise? If yes, the question is, why...? Have you included fundraising as part of their board member … [Read more...]
Raising Major Gifts Post-COVID – Part 4: Stewardship
Stewardship is the fourth and final stage of the fundraising cycle. (Step 1 is Donor Identification, Step 2 is Cultivation and Step 3 is Solicitation.) What is Stewardship? Everything that happens after a gift is made is a part of stewardship. In other words, all forms of expressing gratitude and letting the donor know how their gift was … [Read more...]
Raising Major Gifts Post-COVID – Part 3: Solicitation
This is part three of my “back to basics” series on how to raise major gifts during Covid and beyond. Part two looked at cultivation (step 2 in the fundraising cycle). Although there aren’t very many silver linings when it comes to COVID, there is one important change for fundraisers in terms of how we ask for gifts. A key result of forced … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- …
- 54
- Next Page »