I talk with a lot of nonprofit leaders who get really, really nervous about the wording of their fundraising ask. While I love the intentionality they show in wanting the right words, their fretting reminds me of power ties in the 80’s. Do you remember those? In...
The latest GivingUSA numbers are out. And the numbers aren’t pretty. Yes, the USA recorded over $499 billion was given from non-government sources last year. But the trend of fewer individuals giving accelerated. Individuals gave a 64% of the total – still...
Successful fundraising is built with human relationships. It’s not a mechanical process that you can “turn on” when you need it. I find it’s better to build a habit of consistent communication with donors and prospect rather than trying to...
As I talk with nonprofit leaders, one of the common complaints I get is “I wish I had more opportunities. I feel like my list is so short. I’ve already reached out to them over and over.” Does this sound like you? My friend Phil Jones has a helpful framework to...
A common fundraising question from nonprofit leaders is “How many times should I follow up on an ask?” The situation I’m seeing a lot recently: A nonprofit leader asks a donor for a specific amount of money. The donor seems positive and says they...
