by Marc A. Pitman | Jan 27, 2009 | 3. Ask, Fundraising Secrets
True confessions: ten days ago I freaked out. I’m an optimist by nature. You know that “Is the glass half-full or half-empty” question? My standard answer is that it’s always full. It’s always got something in it: air, liquid, something....
by Marc A. Pitman | Jan 13, 2009 | 2. Engage, Fundraising Secrets
2009 looks like it will be a challenging year for fundraising. But people are going to give. It’s just a matter if they’re going to give to your organization. So one of your goals this year should be to make your nonprofit easy to find. Since more and more...
by Marc A. Pitman | Dec 2, 2008 | 2. Engage, 3. Ask, Fundraising Secrets, Stories
In Secrets of Closing the Sale, Zig Ziglar says: Each year over 5 million quarter-inch drills are sold, yet it’s safe to say that nobody wants a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole. Isn’t that great? We do that in fundraising too. Donations...
by Marc A. Pitman | Nov 18, 2008 | 3. Ask, Fundraising Secrets
Last week, Lois Lindauer summed up some fundraising advice as: Keep Your Friends Close and Your Donors Closer: At a recent gathering of executive-level fundraisers in Boston, the following suggestions and thoughts for working during these uncertain times were...
by Marc A. Pitman | Nov 4, 2008 | 3. Ask, Fundraising Secrets
This week I’ve had two conversations with founders of nonprofits. I’ve had to tell both the unwelcome truth: you’re going to have to do the fundraising yourself. This was a bitter pill for both of them. You see, they’d created their nonprofit...
by Marc A. Pitman | Sep 23, 2008 | 1. Research, 2. Engage, 4. Love (Stewardship), Fundraising Secrets
One of the biggest jobs in we in development have is being “keepers of the lore.” So often our organizations are so focused on the present–being the best they can at their mission–and the future–strategizing where they’re going and...
