Expressing gratitude is the final stage of the fundraising cycle. It comes after the hard work of identifying and cultivating donors, and of course, asking for their gift. Step 1: Identification Step 2: Cultivation Step 3: Solicitation Step 4: Stewardship (gratitude) In other words, after a donor commits to a gift (donation), it’s … [Read more...]
27 Ways to Cultivate Donors and Build Deep, Lasting Relationships
Building relationships with current and prospective donors (donor cultivation) is easier said than done. It takes patience, persistence, and a lot of smiling. For new (and seasoned) fundraisers, it can be mystifying how to build genuine, lasting relationships that inspire donors to give time and again. Donor Cultivation is a Team … [Read more...]
How to Engage Your Nonprofit Board in Just 15 Minutes per Month
Welcome back to Major Gift Fundraising 201, where we discuss fundraising basics and beyond! You can check out the first post in this series here. Today we’re going to be talking about how to engage your board members in only 15 minutes per month. Engage Your Nonprofit Board in Just 15 Minutes per Month This topic is really important to … [Read more...]
Asking Permission to Ask and More Great Advice from Bill Bartolini, ACFRE
Last week I spoke at Congress (AFP’s signature Canadian conference). This conference attracts some of the best speakers worldwide, in addition to fundraisers from across Canada. Between my sessions, I sat in on a talk given by fundraising expert, Bill Bartolini, ACFRE. Who is Bill Bartolini, ACFRE? If you’re unfamiliar with Bill … [Read more...]
The Amazing Power of Authenticity When Building Donor Relationships
At a recent board retreat I was facilitating, a board member challenged me. He said that he felt the donor cultivation strategies I was discussing seemed contrived. He didn’t believe we could develop real relationships with donors because the ulterior motive was to raise money. However, this particular board member was missing one key fact … [Read more...]
Want to Raise More Money when Fundraising? Go on a Listening Tour
Recently I was on a coaching call with a new client who doesn’t have experience raising major gifts. We discussed his plans for raising money from individual donors before year end. His idea was to call as many businesses as possible to “get meetings,” then tell them about all the amazing work his organization was doing, and then ask for a … [Read more...]
How to Be Happier and More Productive at Your Nonprofit Fundraising Job
One of the keynote speeches I regularly give as I travel the country is called Happiness, Habits, and Nonprofit Fundraising: Strategies to Survive and Thrive. I developed this speech because I encounter so many unhappy fundraisers. Sadly, many development professionals are miserable at work. And that’s a real shame, because you didn’t get … [Read more...]
3 “Non-Risk” Risks for the Fearful Fundraiser
Are you risk-averse? If trying something new gives you butterflies in your stomach and stops you in your tracks, you're likely risk-averse. Many fundraiser's are. Some people have an immediate and negative reaction to trying new things. And sometimes, their cautious natures are warranted. But often they’re not. So when Seth Godin … [Read more...]
How to Leave a Lasting Legacy: Your Donors and You!
For just a moment, give some thought to this question: How will you be remembered? Sophisticated donors think about what type of legacy they want to leave when considering their philanthropy. If they have a family foundation, they may do a lot of thinking, talking and discussing what type of mark they want to leave on the world. These … [Read more...]
Listen Your Way to a Major Gift and Your Donors Will Give with Joy
Experienced major gift officers will tell you they listen their way to major gifts. Unfortunately, many development directors think the opposite -- that they need to talk their way into a major gift. What’s important to remember is that fundraising is NOT about convincing, cajoling or guilting your donors to make a gift. When Fundraising … [Read more...]
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