You’ve likely heard the expression, fundraising is about relationships. You may also know that development director tenure can be very short. I’ve heard numbers as low as 14 or 16 months. I often think about what must be happening in nonprofits to make turnover in our sector so high -- especially in a sector that depends on relationships … [Read more...]
How to Lead Your Fundraising Team without Micromanaging
Earlier this year, my daughter and her classmates raised money for pediatric cancer (as they do every year) in a friendly game of teacher volleyball. The teachers are pictured here before the game. Each teacher wore a t-shirt with a nickname on the back. My favorite was the principal’s whose shirt said “Mike Romanager.” The principal’s … [Read more...]
When to Hire a Major Gift Officer (and More) with Ann Hale
I had the privilege to interview Ann Hale, Chair Elect of AFP International and Chief Development Officer of Anchorage Museum. Listen to Ann’s words of wisdom as she initially discusses the process she's leading for AFP’s new strategic plan, as well as how she successfully convinced her CEO it was time to hire their first major gift … [Read more...]
5 Surprising Ways Event Sponsorship is Just Like Raising Major Gifts
Events and corporate sponsorship is a subject I rarely touch on my blog, but the reality is that most organizations are still highly dependent on events for a large portion of their fundraising revenue. That said, I want to make sure you’re doing the best you can with event sponsorship, as it will make or break your event. Event … [Read more...]
How to Get New “First-Time” Individual Donors for Your Nonprofit
Fundraising is all about relationships -- but what do you do if your organization is so new, or so grant-focused, that you don't have any relationships with individuals who might become donors? In other words, today's question is: How do you get individual donors for the first time? Fortunately, the answer for how to get … [Read more...]
8 Simple Steps to Create an Outstanding Development Office
Whether it’s your first day on the job at a new organization, or you’ve been at your organization for many years, you’re reading this because you want guidance on how to get your development shop off on the right footing, or significantly improve an existing one. If you fall into the latter category, do not despair! It’s never too late to … [Read more...]
The End is Coming! 6 Things You Can Do to Prepare for Year-End Giving
As a fundraiser, I take year-end fundraising seriously, and you should too. Spoiler Alert! At the end of this post, I'll be giving away two free phone consultation sessions to help you whip your year-end giving into shape! But read the post first... no cheating! According to several sources, the end of the year is the time when many … [Read more...]
Nonprofit Financial Management Made Simple
If you are like so many passionate, nonprofit folks, finances and accounting are not your forte. Unfortunately for you and your nonprofit, this can be a serious problem. Like you, I would rather be at the dentist than reviewing financial statements. However, reading and understanding financial statements is one of the many important … [Read more...]
An Essential Resource for Nonprofit Beginners
Are you new(ish) to the nonprofit world? Do you ever wish there was a comprehensive guide to nonprofit organizations that covered the basics? Do you need a place to turn when you have a quick question about fundraising, leadership or management? The Best Book for Nonprofit Beginners Although I wouldn’t call it the “bible” for … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Get More Involved in Fundraising
This list focuses on easy, doable tasks which make it simple for you (or your boss) to get more involved in fundraising for your nonprofit. 1. Meet with Donors Schedule at least two meetings per month with current and prospective donors. Meeting topics can include: thanking donors for prior gifts; asking open ended questions to get to know … [Read more...]
