From time to time, I get calls by people that equate “fundraising” with “selling stuff.”
John emailed me recently and gave me permission to post our email dialogue. Here’s the first message I received.

Hello Marc,
I found your blog (and your Linked In profile) and I hope you don’t mind me contacting you directly to ask a [...]

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This question came across one of the listservs I’m on
Is there anyone using social networking sites such as Facebook for fundraising in any way? If so, can you provide details and is it successful?
I think we all need to be asking this kind of question!
Here’s my response:

Great question!
I’m not sure anyone’s really “figured out” how [...]

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Here’s a great question I got today:

Hi, Marc!
I’ve got a question for you…. Normally, I think it’s best for a third party (read, consultant) to conduct a feasibility study. However, right now we don’t have enough of a donor base to consider a wide-spread campaign (only about 250 donors last year).
I’m considering a [...]

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Here’s another question I received in my inbox from Emile Dillis:
How to propose a fund raising project to organisations, fundraisers or individuals?
The Lord has led us to a place in the mountains of Northern Italy. Here our ministry shall be hospitality. Holiday home, meeting place, courses, seminars, Bible school, evangelisation and so much more.
We [...]

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Here’s a question that appeared on LinkedIn.com:
Question:
If donors that have the option to give online would it be a good idea to give them the ability make online pledges?

Here’s My Answer:
If you’re asking as a nonprofit looking at implementing a system, my answer in a word is NO!
I’ve worked with nonprofits across the country for [...]

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The November question for the Giving Carnival is: “What business practices should nonprofits adopt to maximize their resources?”
My first answer dealt with having our financial house in order. But there’s another wonderful business practice I think nonprofits could adopt to their benefit: investing in training.
I’d recommend nonprofit professionals and their employers to invest [...]

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The November question for the Giving Carnival is: “What business practices should nonprofits adopt to maximize their resources?”
Great question! I think a very helpful business practice would be having open books.
Donors are used to living in a world of increasing transparency. And with sites like GuideStar publishing our 990’s, our financial information is more [...]

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I’ve long been an advocate of PYITS: put yourself in their shoes. (I’ve blogged about it here, here, here, and here.) But during the Q & A portion of my “Taking the Fear Out of Face to Face Solicitation” seminar last week at Blackbaud’s Conference for Nonprofits, a participant asknig me how I reacted to [...]

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Thank you to all who’ve emailed me with questions for the new “Question Marc” section I’d like to start here on the blog.
Please keep asking them (and give me permission to post them). Ask exactly the question you have, and I’ll obscure the details so none of your board members or donors can tie it [...]

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I’ve received some terrific questions from EFE subscribers over the years. Most of these questions are ones that would help all of us improve our fundraising and our ability to relate to donors.
So I’d like to explore a new feature on my blog called “Question Marc.” (Get it?)
All I need is your questions and permission [...]

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