Is your fundraising special event working as hard as you do?
Lately I have been approached by a number of different groups all inquiring about special events. So while I don't necessarily overwhelmingly think that they are a great singular and isolated strategy in your fundraising toolbox, I do think…
It’s elementary my dear, building your elementary school alumni effort!
I was recently approached by my local Catholic elementary schools to put together some thoughts about building an alumni base that could possible provide scholarship fund assistance.Some elementary schools have very robust elementary alumni…
Saying thank you to your nonprofit donors!
Let's face it, our donors are not ATM machines, nor should we treat them as such.These days the average thank you, well, won't do the trick alone.Don't you think for all that our donors make possible, that they deserve so much more?Here…
Planned giving, even for a small nonprofit?
Are you a small non-profit who has stayed away from planned giving because you don’t think it is for your organization? Or you don’t believe that you have the resources to conduct a campaign? Or you are just operating day to day trying to…
Budget cuts, oh budget cuts…how fair art thou?
It seems everywhere I turn these days, I hear of more budget cuts heading down the “turnpike” of non-profit funding. Just today, I read about the MA state House Committee on Ways and Means proposes yet another $1.2 million cut to arts, sciences…
How to get started in social media for your non-profit?
Hmmm…"where do I even begin" is something I am sure that you have asked yourself many times as you contemplate dabbling in social media.Well it is my hopes that this feature will get you started out on the right foot.Here are the places…
Why a feasibility study is important
Have you ever wondered if you should conduct a feasibility study for a Capital Campaign?Oftentimes, I have heard non-profit groups saying, “Let’s just start the campaign!”And, if you are a small nonprofit, I would urge against by-passing…
How to attract donors to give on your website.
I am often asked questions about donation catchment pages for non-profit websites.The questions range from: How can I make my donation catchment page on my website more appealing to donors? How can I get donors to take action once they are…
Government funding, stable no more!
Government funding was once the mainstay of many nonprofit organizations fundraising efforts. However, this has changed dramatically over the past several years as federal, state and local governments continue to struggle through the budget…
An endowment campaign is something for the long haul!
This week a prospective client asked me what is an endowment fund and can I get grants to fund it?That question stopped me dead in my tracks.When was the last time an organization had thought about an endowment fund. Really an organization…
Applying for your tax exempt status, a fundraisers perspective!
I am not an attorney nor ever claim to be one, but, as a fundraiser I sure can offer you some advice!The first step in forming a nonprofit organization almost always is forming a corporation. A corporation is an entity or an organization that…
Its in the mail!
Direct mail.WE all do it, but, do we do it well?Direct mail is the workhorse of your fundraising program. It allows you to state your case for support, ask for a gift, and build your donor base. But, it does come at a cost. Why should it…
