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…
Sleigh bells ring…Is your year-end fundraising strategy in place?
A little early you might say but…
Not really because if you are not hearing sleigh bells ringing then you might already be behind the eight ball in your development office.
Santa is getting his sleigh ready and so should you be.
Now is…
How to raise $75,000 in 7 months through grant writing
I raised $85,000 for an organizations in 7 months. How?
Grant writing!
I bet you didn't know that was a skill set of DCS, oh but it is!
In the past 7 months that I have worked with an elder care facility, I have been busy raising money through…
Moves management actions
In need of some "moves management" suggestions for your donors?
Try some of these out:
Follow up a thank-you call to a donor with a video or photos of your mission in action.
Post videos of your mission in action on Facebook, and ask your…
Knock, know, who’s there? Your new donor that is who!
It has been almost ten years since I moved into my home.
At times, I just can't believe that it has been THAT long.
Where does time go?
I do know this, when I moved into my new home it was a monumental thing.
I had neighbors knocking at…
P.S. look here!
Why the P.S. in a direct mail appeal letter? Asked the Executive Director...
And I say because it works!
Direct mail appeal letter writing is not your average writing and there just happens to be a technical science behind it.
For one,…
A day in a small fundraising shop
Often wonder what it is like to be in a small fundraising shop?
Exciting, exhilarating and yet tedious all at the same time.
You need to be a generalist rather than a specialist. So your skills need to be broad and you need to know a great…
Let’s talk about board of directors giving…
Does you board of directors give?
This all important topic that is so hard to broach.
First, lets start where it all starts...
Does your organization have board of directors expectations that you share with them even before they are elected?
Do…
Your board of directors…whats up with them?
I know, I know. The BOARD...we all seem to cringe when we hear that word. The board is the way the board is because...
Perhaps the board is the way the board is because... we haven't done our jobs.
Whether as executive directors or development…
Do you have a fundraising procedure for handling gifts of securities?
Whether part of an existing gift acceptance policy or a separate written document, your organization should prepare a written description of the procedures for handling a gift of securities.
Where is the organization's brokerage account?
Who…
Is your fund development diversified?
“Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.” - George R.R. Martin
Are you diversified?
If you have been a client of mine, you will know that I often talk about the need for diversity in fund development. Organizations should not…
