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 to reduce the frantic pace in your nonprofit fundraising workday
Just recently, I noticed as I was driving around that everyone seems to be frantic. Or, is it more frenetic? Folks weaving in and out, road rage, and overall cortisol on overload. In comparison, I just spent three months in Australia. And,…
The top seven steps to creating special event sponsorships that sell
Before you can even solicit sponsors for your fundraising special events, you need to take several key steps first to best position your organization. What most groups fail to do is evaluate their sponsor value proposition first and foremost,…
What one thing can make or break the success of YOUR organization?
The Board. It can make or break your organization. If assembled and organized correctly, it can chart a successful future that prospers and preserves inspiration and creativity of its members and benefactors alike. If not, well...insert…
How to craft an effective and impactful plan for your next fundraising fiscal year
For many, as the calendars switch to spring, our organizations begin their budget planning season in preparation of a new fiscal year. As a result, development departments are often hard-pressed to come up budget sometimes right in the middle…
Hosting Your First Fundraising Cultivation Event
Donor cultivation events should be an important part of your fundraising program. Whether you are a small or large non-profit, or if you are raising money for annual operations for capital campaigns, you need to incorporate them as a vital…
How to raise more money through fundraising special event corporate sponsors
What happens next after you develop your sponsorship prospect list for your next special event? Do you send them all the same letter? Do you make personal phone calls? To whom? How do you get in the door? Who should you ask first? I…
How to keep your small shop fundraising focus on your major donor work
After having served most of my career as a Director of Development in a small organization, I understand the realities of trying to handle all of the major tasks and responsibilities that come up daily; plus the fires that seem to endlessly…
We're growing our interim fundraising division to help YOU reach your possibility.
Let me share a story with you... A few years back when I first started consulting, I provided organizations like yourself with strategic fund development audits and assessments and then crafted finely honed plans. What I thought were roadmaps…
How to recruit the best fundraising volunteers possible
Fundraising volunteers are critical to our success as they are the "ambassadors" of our fundraising efforts. I often get asked, what is the best way of recruiting them to join in fundraising efforts? And, while I believe that, in some cases,…
How to build your development program with special event attendees
Often, we get so caught up with the small event details at special events that we forget to think long-term. Just this week at a conference that I spoke at, I was asked, "How do I collect all the names of people who are attending my special…
Characteristics of a good development director
Technical skill or personality, which is most important when hiring a new Director of Development? That is a great question. And, while both would be ideal, that is not always a guarantee. So, what do you look for in this case? While…
