Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, which serves as a reminder to be especially thankful at this time of year. But sometimes it’s hard to be thankful when it seems like there’s not much to be grateful for. Maybe you didn’t raise as much as you hoped. Perhaps you have a sick family member, or you’re sick yourself. Maybe you’ve suffered a loss … [Read more...]
3 Campaign-Style Ways to Engage Donors BEFORE You Ask for a Major Gift
A common refrain in fundraising is how important it is to engage donors before asking for a gift. And yet, engaging donors is easier said than done. Engaging Major Gift Donors, Campaign-Style Experienced fundraisers know they are supposed to ask donors for advice. In other words, ask them for something other than money. Asking for advice … [Read more...]
How to Determine the Right Ask Amount for Each and Every Donor
Although you should be asking for major gifts all year long, Q4 is a prime time for raising major gifts. So, there’s no better time to think about how to determine an ask amount than right now. While there’s no exact scientific formula to determine an ask amount, below are some guidelines to help you start thinking about your ask amount in … [Read more...]
AFP ICON: Fundraising Trends, Data, Interactive Meetings, and More!
This week is the Association of Fundraising Professionals' International Conference (aka AFP-ICON). I’ve attended this conference every year for over a decade, in addition to speaking nearly every year. While many of us (loyal attendees) had hoped this year’s conference would be in-person, it is fully virtual for a second year due to the … [Read more...]
How to Ask Donors for a Gift: 4 Powerfully Authentic Scripts
One of the most terrifying moments for most fundraisers (staff members and volunteers) is asking for a gift. And yet, every fundraiser must request specific gifts if they are going to raise significant amounts of funding. Sometimes simply finding the right language for the right situation makes everything flow together. Before you ask … [Read more...]
Fundraising Fundamentals: Major Gift Basics – Do You Do These 4 Things?
Recently I presented a webinar on how to raise major gifts during a pandemic. With nearly 500 people on the call, there was a wide range of experience and expertise among participants. And yet, after teaching major gift fundraising for more than a decade, people of all experience levels are most grateful when I review the fundamentals. This … [Read more...]
Modern Day Storytelling is Driving Changes to Nonprofit Fundraising
From time to time, I like to share a different voice, perspective, and expertise on my blog. Storytelling is such an integral part of fundraising, so I turned to my colleague, Ephriam Gopin, for some words of wisdom. For those unfamiliar with his work, Ephriam is a nonprofit fundraising and marketing expert from 1832 … [Read more...]
Back to Basics: 8 Fundraising Essentials to Live By During a Pandemic
We're coming up on one year since the WHO declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. This past year has shown us, in an outsized way, that the basics of fundraising are still essential for success. Therefore, below is a list of my best “essential” reminders of what you should be doing to raise money right now -- pandemic or not. Back to … [Read more...]
Giving Out of Guilt: Good or Bad for Fundraising?
Do you “have to” fundraise? Or do you “get to” fundraise? And is there really a difference? I would argue, yes. There’s an important distinction between things you HAVE to do and those you GET to do. Fundraising and giving are two of those things where people straddle that line -- but shouldn't. Do You "Have To" Fundraise? People who … [Read more...]
The Easiest Thing You Can Do Every Day to Raise More Money
What's the easiest thing you can do every day to raise more money? Pick up the phone and call a donor. That’s it. Just one phone call. Every. Single. Day. It’s the easiest way to raise more money, and yet, so few fundraisers actually do it. It’s even okay to leave a message -- something you'll probably end up doing most of the … [Read more...]
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