Remember to approach your donors with DAFs
Many organizations trying to meet goal before the fiscal year ends on June 30. This usually involves looking at the LYBUNTS - donors who gave Last Year But Unfortunately Not (yet) This year SYBUNTS - donors who have given in Some Year But Unfortunately Not (yet) This...
5 Ways to Segment Donors for More Effective Fundraising
Donor segmentation allows for enhanced targeting and personalization that lead to increased engagement. Discover five ways to segment donors for fundraising.
There’s never a good time to fundraise
There's Never Been a Good Time to Fundraise As a fundraiser, do you ever look at the calendar or the news or the economy, and think: this is the worst possible time to ask anyone for anything? You're not alone. I've been in nonprofit fundraising since the mid-1990s....
The Two Speeds of Nonprofit Work (And Why Both Are Necessary)
Nonprofit leadership might be one of the hardest forms of leadership on the planet. Think about what you're actually doing. You're working to make seismic changes in communities, often with razor-thin margins for error. You're doing some of the riskiest, most...
Everything Your Nonprofit Needs to Know About Form 990
Are data silos and clunky tools hurting your fundraising? Learn how to audit your nonprofit’s tech stack to find hidden gaps and improve donor retention.
How to transition donor relationships before you walk out the door
They Gave to You. Now Help Them Love the Mission. After 25 years working with nonprofit leaders, I've watched a lot of fundraisers retire. Some leave well. Their major donors stay engaged, continue giving, and develop meaningful relationships with the next person who...
3 Steps for Being More Strategic with Your Board
Or "How to show up more authentically with board members" This past week, I was at a board retreat. Not facilitating a board retreat like I normally do. But attending the board retreat as a board member! And my experience may help you with your nonprofit board...
How to Identify Gaps in Your Fundraising Tech Stack
Are data silos and clunky tools hurting your fundraising? Learn how to audit your nonprofit’s tech stack to find hidden gaps and improve donor retention.
![Now’s the time to thank [script included]](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/14201643/thankdonors-calendar-400x250.jpg)
Now’s the time to thank [script included]
Good morning, Marc, With all the receipting and reporting you need to do this week, it's easy to forget the most important part of the fundraising process: thanking. Ok. The second most important. Asking is obviously more important. But thanking is hugely important....
4 Best Practices for Sustainable Nonprofit Revenue
Inconsistent revenue hinders your nonprofit’s mission. Explore best practices to foster sustainable revenue that will support your growth for years to come.
How to Build Financial Resilience in Times of Uncertainty
Nonprofits need financial resilience now more than ever due to unpredictable funding sources and broader economic uncertainty. Learn how to build it here.
The 3 Biggest Mistakes that are Killing Your Fall Fundraising Letter
I've been seeing a disturbing pattern in fundraising appeals this fall. Smart, well-meaning people are making the same critical mistakes - and ignoring decades of proven data about what actually works. These well meaning people are smart, creative, resourceful. But...
Stop panicking about your fundraising goal (there’s a formula for that)
You know that moment when your board announces, "We need to raise $50,000"... and everyone looks at you like you're supposed to magic it into existence? Yeah, me too. It's easy to panic. Especially if the board mistakenly thinks that you "just" need to find 50 people...
A Day in the Life of a Nonprofit Event Planner + Takeaways
Discover what a day looks like for a nonprofit event planner, from morning prep to evening wrap-up, and see how they turn purpose into impactful events.
How do I know how much money to ask the donor to give?
In the last few weeks, many nonprofit leaders have been asking me a variation of the same question: "How do I know how much to ask the donor?" Do you ever wonder? In the last few weeks, I've heard more interest in tools like WealthEngine, DonorSearch, iWave, and...
5 Dos & Don’ts of Effective Volunteer Recruitment
Want to recruit volunteers more effectively? Use these dos and don’ts to refine your strategy, boost signups, and set the stage for long-term engagement.
Is jargon getting in the way of your ask?
Fundraising effectively requires communicating clearly. And we can learn from all sorts of different sectors to communicate clearly. Today I was listening to a podcast on local civic engagement. And a note on communicating clearly struck me as helpful for fundraising...
Why Gen Z Ignores Your Campaigns (and How to Fix It)
Your website needs to be discoverable to drive support. Explore proven nonprofit website marketing strategies that drive traffic and grow cause awareness.
When Uncertainty Hits: Getting Back to Fundraising Basics
Last week during our monthly Nonprofit Academy call, I found myself in a conversation that felt both familiar and frustrating. The topic? How tariffs and rescissions are creating confusion among donors and nonprofit boards—and making fundraising feel nearly...
🎧 Leadership, Doubt, and the Future of Our Nonprofit Sector – Podcast Episode with Marc A. Pitman
I’m honored to share a recent conversation I had with Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim on The Fundraising Elevator podcast. With Kristin and Samantha, conversations go deep QUICKLY. We went into possible roots for burnout experienced by nonprofit leaders. And then...
Is Successful Fundraising Asking Questions or Making Pitches?
Here's something that might surprise you: The most effective fundraising conversations sound nothing like what most people think fundraising should sound like. No PowerPoints. No glossy brochures. No perfectly polished presentations that wow donors into giving....
Nonprofit Website Marketing: How to Make Your Site Findable
Your website needs to be discoverable to drive support. Explore proven nonprofit website marketing strategies that drive traffic and grow cause awareness.
How to Use Custom Landing Pages for Targeted Fundraising
Follow this step-by-step guidance to build custom fundraising landing pages that engage donors, increase conversions, and elevate your nonprofit’s campaigns.
How to know who to ask at fiscal year end
Happy End of the Fiscal Year to all who observe! If you're like many nonprofits, your fiscal year ends in June. So you're in the final weeks of your fiscal year. If you've made goal - congratulations! If you haven't, there's still time. One of the best things you can...
Planned Gifts: A Quick Guide To Help Nonprofits Raise More
If your nonprofit is ready to diversify its revenue and raise more, planned gifts are the way to go. Learn the basics of acquiring planned gifts in this guide.
The Secret to Major Gift Success – Stop talking so much
Fundraising expert Chany Reon Ockert recently shared an amazing post on LinkedIn that will help you grow your major gift fundraising. You see, when I got started in major gift fundraising, I thought I needed a pitch. I needed a presentation that would be so great, the...
Major Gift Fundraisers: Your Boss Doesn’t Understand What You Do
As a major gifts officer, you face a unique challenge: your boss likely doesn't understand what you actually do all day. This disconnect creates frustration on both sides and can undermine your effectiveness. Let me break down why this happens and what you can do...
3 Ways to Inspire Quicker Responses to Fundraising Appeals
Motivating your donors to act fast is essential, especially during time-sensitive campaigns. Learn 3 ways to inspire quicker responses to fundraising appeals.
You don’t have to do this alone
This is a confusing time. With all the pressures and uncertainty, it's tempting to isolate. This is a reminder to resist that urge. We are stronger together. You don't have to do this alone. Off the top of my head, here are some ways you can connect with others: Talk...
Basics of Nonprofit Accounting: 4 Documents to Know
Proper accounting is essential to your nonprofit’s long-term health and sustainability. Start learning about this process by understanding four key documents.