You better have the ask ready
You've heard it said that fundraising is all about relationships. Is it? No. Relationships exist in many formats. Many that do not lead to fundraising at all. I'd suggest fundraising is all about mutually beneficial relationships. That's why if you meet with a donor...
5 Easy Steps: A Guide to Hiring a Fundraising Consultant
A fundraising consultant can identify gaps in your existing strategy and revamp your operations. Use these steps to hire the best fit for your organization.
What Is Pledge Fundraising? 5 Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s explore two fundraising scenarios. School A and School B are both holding month-long read-a-thon fundraising campaigns to cap off the end of the school year. School A asks students to collect flat donations of $10 from their friends and family. School B uses the...
Silence isn’t a “no”
I don't know what the cause is, but many of us are finding people area taking a lot longer to make a decision. And more than that, they're not responding to any of our follow up. This is hard in fundraising, isn't it? Most nonprofits aren't asking for next year's...
7 Winning Techniques to Boost Nonprofit Donor Engagement
Your nonprofit’s donors interact with your organization in a variety of ways, whether they’re giving online, volunteering, following you on social media, or attending your events. All of this involvement is referred to as donor engagement. The more that your donors...
8 Essential Crowdfunding KPIs for Measuring Success
Nonprofits have many important goals that a crowdfunding campaign can address—from providing disaster relief aid to launching a new program to serve more community members. Regardless of what your organization is trying to accomplish, you need to find a way to measure...
3 Reasons to Register for the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference this week
If you're a bit like me, registering for a conference is not something you look forward to. I hem and haw. I procrastinate. And I get more and more stressed as the deadline draw closer. But once I've registered, all that stress leaves. Because I'm not longer wondering...
3 Ways to Enhance Donor Experiences With Online Fundraising
Strong donor relationships help your nonprofit build robust supporter networks, make donors happy to support your mission, and foster lasting support. Whether you’re setting up a gratitude system or meeting with donors one-on-one, it’s essential to make these...
So You’ve Been Asked to Apply for a Grant — What Now?
Writing your first grant proposal can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide breaks the grant writing process down into ten approachable steps.
Your leadership style is impacting your fundraising
In our most recent nonprofit leadership study, we looked at how different leadership styles affected a nonprofit's culture of philanthropy. We chose four styles that had a large body of academic research behind them: servant leadership, transformational leadership,...
From Idea & Start-Up to Strong & Sustainable
This guest post is from Rebecca Rogriquez, an expert in helping nonprofit startups. She's even written the book for nonprofit startups "The Nonprofit Workbook." You can find out more about Rebecca on her website at: www.forthephilanthropist.com. She also runs the...
Retaining Donors: Create a System for Expressing Gratitude
It’s well-known in the nonprofit world that the second gift, sometimes even referred to as “the golden gift,” is when donor retention rates start to rise. So why do donors continue to give to your nonprofit after their first gift? Or conversely, why do so many...
Coffee, Calendars, and Sticky Notes: These are a few of my favorite things!
One Leader's Approach to Annual Team Planning "Coffee, Calendars, and Sticky Notes: These are a few of my favorite things!" by Amy Lazoff, Director of Philanthropy & Community Relations, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo There is one thing I love about this time of year...
Web Accessibility: A Nonprofit Website Design Must-Have
Web accessibility plays an important role in designing a high-quality nonprofit website. Read on to explore how you can make your own website more accessible.
Google Ad Grants Management: 4 Benefits for Nonprofits
Google Ad Grants management is vital to making the most of the program. Learn how your nonprofit can benefit from outsourcing management in this guide!
Impactful Legacy Giving Benefits for You and Your Donors
Legacy giving offers lasting benefits for both organizations and donors. Learn more about the advantages of legacy giving so your nonprofit can get started.
Are people not giving? Or are you not asking?
I while ago, I spoke with a nonprofit leader who wanted to explore working with me. She posed a problem that many fundraising coaching clients have: she has a six-figure fundraising goal and is struggling with getting donations. As we prepared to meet, I asked her...
Staffing for a Capital Campaign: How to Prepare
Most nonprofits hire new staff for their capital campaigns. How do you know if you need to grow your team? How do you get started making the case to your board?
Evaluating Nonprofit Impact: Analytics to Take from Form 990
Understanding your nonprofit’s financial analytics is critical for long-term success. Here are some of the most important facts and figures you should know.
Fundraiser Troubleshooting: 3 Hurdles + How Software Helps
As a fundraiser, you’re bound to face a few obstacles along the way. Here are 3 of the most common fundraising challenges and how software can help you succeed.
How To Make Your Nonprofit’s Marketing Unforgettable
To compete with other organizations, your nonprofit’s marketing efforts must be unforgettable. Here are four ways to capture potential supporters’ attention.
Following up IS fundraising
A few weeks ago, I heard that 65% - 70% of sales happen during the follow up phase. 65% - 70%! The person sharing this information said that most business owners get stuck chasing the “cream,” just looking for the three people out of ten who are easy to sell to. Even...
A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Nonprofit Auction Catalog
This article is contributed by Jeff Cova, President of Winspire. When your nonprofit hosts a fundraising auction, your catalog is a vital resource for connecting with supporters and sponsors before, during, and after the event. Not only does it serve as a guide to...
Charity Auctions: 3 Best Practices for Fundraising Success
Planning a charity auction for your nonprofit? Follow these best practices to ensure you can give your guests the best experience possible while raising funds.
How to Write Compelling Text-to-Give Requests: 4 Key Tips
Before you can dive into leading a text fundraising campaign, you need to familiarize yourself with nonprofit text messaging best practices. One of the most important components of running a successful text-to-give campaign is drafting effective, persuasive messages...
6 Guidelines for Planning Your Hybrid Silent Auction
With a strong plan for your hybrid silent auction, your nonprofit can expand its reach and boost revenue. Explore these guidelines to make your event a success.
Integrating Your Nonprofit Website With Social Media: 4 Tips
Your nonprofit’s website and social media are two of your biggest marketing assets. Explore these top tips to pair them together and expand your reach.
Your fundraising is stronger than a 1980’s power tie
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...
Protect Your Nonprofit from the Dip in Donations
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 the lion...
You can’t cram for fundraising results
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 "make up" for not talking to...