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…
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…
Are you in a fundraising foxhole of expectations?
I coach nonprofit fundraisers to either advance in their career or to make a mark in their first 90 days in their new position. As a coach, I sometimes hear and feel the same situation in different ways. Most are not satisfied with their…
The top six tips to avoid the "Hope and Pray" method of calendar-year end campaign planning
Often, I work with clients who don't adequately plan for their calendar year-end efforts. This lack of planning does a disservice to the organization for a couple of important reasons. One such reason is that calendar year-end efforts and…
How to easily verify your annual report donor honor roll
Quite plainly, one thing that is known for sure is that donors appreciate the fact that you get their name spelled correctly, especially when you are thanking them for past giving. When it comes time to thank them in your Annual Report or…
How to begin attracting new donors to your organization
It is probably not where you initially think! To begin attracting new donors to your organization, you first need to step back and determine a strong and compelling case for support. Without a rationale for giving, you won't be able to attract…
How your direct mail appeal letter typesetting can help your letter raise more money
One may think that the content or copy of a direct mail appeal letter is King (or Queen), but studies have found that there is something else as equally or maybe even more important than what the letter says. What is that one thing? Typesetting. …
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 ideally, both would be great, that is not always a guarantee. So what do you look for in this case? While…
Why do good grant applications fail?
Why good grant applications fail.
Yes, every grant you write will not be funded. That is a reality. I know, you and I both wish that they were, but that's not always the case. According to The Fund Raising School at the Indiana University…
Let's find all the wealthy people in town!
Is this your major gift strategy? Big donor to save the day? You know. You look up every large property owner in town and create a list. Or, how about you excavate other folks annual reports and assume, hey why not. When you live in a small…
Are you wishing on a capital campaign?
Oh no! We need a new building. The offer letter is on the table. What now? We need money! But wait, we haven't done any fundraising in the past. We need millions tomorrow to move into our new facility and to make all the necessary upgrades.…
Is fundraising a profession yet?
When you are sick, you go to the doctor. The doctor advises you on what you need to do in order to return to health. You listen, you follow the instructions, and you get better. It is not that way with fund development. You look for the…
