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...]
Should Fundraisers Work Christmas Week? What Do You Think?
Historically, nonprofit organizations have raised the majority (more than half) of their fundraising income in the last six weeks of the year, with a large portion of that income arriving during the last week of the year. Not only that, but it’s not unheard of for donors to show up at a nonprofit organization, stock certificate in hand, on … [Read more...]
Setting Goals to Raise More Money: What’s Your ONE THING?
As we head into the New Year, it’s only natural to start reflecting on the year gone by and begin planning for the year to come. As you begin this process, you’ll want to think about things you did well and those you wish you’d done better. The years seem to go by faster and faster. It’s hard to imagine that it was 20 years ago when we … [Read more...]
Why You Must Keep Learning as a Fundraiser: If You’re Not Growing, You’re Dying
Many nonprofit professionals tell me they can’t afford to attend fundraising conferences, workshops, or trainings. My response is, you can’t afford not to... literally. While some national and international conferences may be out of reach (in terms of budget) for many professionals, there are plenty of local and online trainings which are … [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...]
Would Your Nonprofit Pass a Fundraising Audit? 5 Critical Rules
There are some basic and universal fundraising principles that should be followed by every nonprofit organization. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, these “rules” of fundraising are frequently broken. Sometimes fundraising best practices are not followed due to lack of staff and resources. Other times it’s simply a lack of … [Read more...]
10 Ways Nonprofit Women can Support their Fellow Women at Work
Recently I asked for your suggestions on women-specific topics to write about. The feedback was overwhelming -- in a good way. I truly appreciate all the suggestions and I always love hearing from my followers. Several of you suggested that I write about the importance of women supporting other women in the workplace. Unfortunately, it … [Read more...]
September 11, 2001: A Fundraiser’s Reflections Nearly 20 Years Later
If you’re over 30 years old, it’s likely you remember where you were when you first learned that two planes flew into the Twin Towers back in September of 2001. I’ll never forget. I was sitting in my car in a parking lot, waiting to go into an interview for a fundraising job at Rutgers University (Douglass College), my Alma mater. … [Read more...]
Nonprofit Board Governance Best Practices: The Shocking Truth
The shocking truth about nonprofit board governance best practices (and how they impact raising major gifts) is that many nonprofit board governance best practices are often ignored by nonprofit professionals and volunteers -- including perhaps the most important best practice for any nonprofit board. So that begs the question: … [Read more...]
Nonprofit Board and Staff Retreat Agenda Sample (Stop Having Poor Retreats!)
If you’re like so many nonprofit professionals, you may believe that a nonprofit board and staff retreat agenda is simply a longer version of your regular board meetings. If that’s the case, let me be blunt... Your retreat will be a waste of time. That’s right. You don’t want to waste your board members' time by planning an extend … [Read more...]
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