Imagine you donate to a charity for the first time. You receive a generic tax receipt and then, eight months later out of the blue, you receive a thank you call for a donation you barely remember making. Do you feel warm and fuzzy or in any way endeared toward that organization? I know a lot of nonprofit leaders are hard at work right now … [Read more...]
How to Earn an A+ on Your Donor Report Cards
If your donors were grading your fundraising efforts and their experience with your nonprofit, what sort of grade would they give you? (Hint: It’s not all about getting straight A’s, but it’s about doing the best you can. For more on this, see the end of this post.) 6 Areas to Earn an A+ on Your Donor Report Cards Simply pushing … [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...]
How to Create a Development Plan that Catapults Your Fundraising
I often remind people of the definition of insanity -- doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. What are you going to do differently down the road to try to raise more money for your cause? You must have a development plan for your nonprofit. And if you already have one, you should take the time to reevaluate and … [Read more...]
How Nonprofit Executive Directors Should Support their Development Director
Occasionally I like to share different perspectives on my blog. For this post, I connected with Canadian colleague Larissa Stoddart, Founder and CEO of Growth & Co., for her insights on effective nonprofit leadership. Executive Director and Development Director: A Critical Relationship AE: Larissa, let’s start with a relatively easy topic. … [Read more...]
6 Nuggets of Fundraising Wisdom I Wish Someone Shared With Me
It feels like yesterday that I was the youngest professional in the room. But the reality is that that’s not been the case for many, many years. In fact, today I’m probably closer to the end of my career than the start of it. As I look back, there are a number of "life lessons" I picked up through personal experience that I wish someone had … [Read more...]
3 Reasons to Start a Capital Campaign Now and How to Get Started
Nearly every nonprofit should embark on a capital campaign at least once every ten years. If your organization hasn’t had a campaign in the last decade, it’s time to start planning one today. You know the expression: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. It's a cliché, but it's also true. If you haven’t accomplished your mission, it’s … [Read more...]
6 Things You Can Do This Summer to Prepare for Fall Fundraising
Summer tends to be a slower time for fundraisers. Many donors and staff are away on vacation. However, fall fundraising will be here before you know it. That’s why it’s a good idea to take advantage of quiet time in the office to prepare for the mad dash to year end. 6 Things You Can Do to Prep for Fall Fundraising With that in mind, … [Read more...]
How to Hire a Fantastic Development Director for Your Nonprofit
Frequently, my clients ask for help in hiring new or first time development staff. Hiring an exceptional development director takes real skill. There are a few things I look for: a specific fundraising skill-set; a willingness to learn and grow; a good work ethic, and; a good personality match for the organization. Hiring a … [Read more...]
3 Efficiency Hacks for Stewarding Donors in Record Time
Stewardship is the critical, final step in the fundraising process. Stewardship is everything that happens after a gift is made -- most notably thanking a donor and letting them know how their gift was used. When done well, stewardship leads to donor retention and increased gift amounts. When donors feel great about the gift they made, they … [Read more...]
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