Please Fit Your Fundraising Oxygen Mask
I tend to fly a lot these days. And, sometimes, I pay attention to those safety announcements. Qantas Airlines has done a great job of making them both fun and informative, which helps.The one safety tip that I, and probably you, remember…
What bushfires taught me about being a resilient nonprofit fundraiser
It was early December when I arrived at my location in Australia.The fires had been burning for several weeks and had been slowly chewing more and more bushland.
As the days rolled on, dark clouds of smoke became even more ominous, and…
How a capital campaign is nothing more than an Annual Fund on steroids
During coaching sessions, I often get asked from professionals in their fundraising positions, "How do I run a capital campaign?" My easy answer, "It's just like a big fundraising campaign on steroids." What do you mean?I learned a valuable…
Are you suffering a “crisis in confidence” as a nonprofit executive director or fundraiser?
There are specific points in all our nonprofit careers, where we stop and wonder, "Am I cut out for this work?"Whether or not you are an executive director or a fundraiser, it happens.Whether through a "bad job fit," "unrealistic expectations,"…
How our fundraising expectations die a slow death to complacency
Just this week, I have spoken to two coaching clients about the stages of grieving after losing a job. Yes, there are actual stages of grieving that one must go through that follow Elizabeth Kubler Ross identified stages of grieving a death.…
How a major donor prospect fundraising meeting is like a nonprofit archeological dig
What should I say on my major donor visit?
It’s not a matter of what you should say; it is more of a question of what you should do.
To me, an initial major donor prospect meeting is more of an “archeological dig” or an “excavation.”
So…
Top 10 “Finding the Right Fundraising Hire Red Flag” list
Hiring can be just plain tough. Sometimes you think you have it nailed, and the prospective new employee lasts a month. Or maybe, you can’t find the right candidate to start. And, then, when you find one, they always seem to operate at less…
Making a case for your state-funded organization’s fundraising
When meeting with new clients, I often hear this exact same question, "But, our organization receives state and federal funds...how can we realistically make the case for our fundraising?"And, my answer is, "Even more so you can!It…
Ten steps to supercharge your nonprofit fundraising in the new decade
A new year and a new decade are quickly moving upon us. Is your organization ready to hit the ground running when the clock hits midnight on December 31? After what seems like months of preparation, and a rush headlong in the "Giving Season,"…
How a feasibility study can determine whether or not to invest in a fundraising program
Recently, I have received several inquiries from organizations who, for the first time, are seeking to start fundraising efforts. Many have subsisted on federal and state funds, finding ways to "cover" the expenses that the federal and state…
Making a case for your state-funded organization’s fundraising
When meeting with new clients, I often hear this exact same question, "But, our organization receives state and federal funds...how can we realistically make the case for our fundraising?"And, my answer is, "Even more so you can!It…
Incorporating Peer-to-Peer Fundraising as a Calendar Year-End Donor Acquisition Strategy
I worked with various sized organizations all with different causes and the one thing that I see most in common is that they lack strong broad-based donor bases at the lower level. Most have focused their efforts on building relationships with…
