Donor Fatigue is a myth
I firmly believe "donor fatigue" is a cop out, not a reality. In this quick video, I tell you why. And I give you a free tool to fix your next fundraising letter. For more on this, check out: The free fundraising letter email course at"...
Millenials aren’t really that different!
Millenials aren't really different. Charities just haven't been paying attention! Charities have gotten used to the WORLD WAR II GENERATION's trust in big social programs. Big programs overcame the Great Depression and overcame Hitler, right? So if "everyone does...
Helping board members tell their nonprofit story
Would you like to jumpstart your fundraising for your nonprofit? One of the most important tools I've seen is helping board members get comfortable telling their own story. Getting board members to be fully present In my work with nonprofits around the world, I find a...
9 experts weigh in on quite possibly the worst nonprofit mobile friendly advice ever
Just over a week ago, I saw this tweet from a self-proclaimed "social media expert": #Google is requesting all websites are mobile friendly by April. Use #socialmedia instead and avoid the expense of #websiteredesign This is horrible advice. The worst ever. At first,...
![[Guest Post] Improve Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising with Prospect Research](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/02230950/Bill-Tedesco200w.png)
[Guest Post] Improve Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising with Prospect Research
I'm pleased to welcome Bill Tedesco, founder and CEO of DonorSearch, my favorite prospect research tool. Prospect research is so vitally important to successful nonprofit fundraising. But so misunderstood by nonprofit leaders. A veteran of prospect research, Bill...
Fundraising Kick: Fundraising is NOT from a diminishing pie
Each week, I send out a coaching email to nonprofit CEOs, Executive Directors, and leaders. These Fundraising Kicks are quick emails designed to help them get out from behind their desk and in front of donors. Often they have scripts or task lists. Sometimes they...
71 sessions to help your hospital fundraising – for free!
If you raise money for a hospital, or are thinking of moving into that career, you need to register for the The Hospital Fundraising Summit. It's coming April 6 - 12 and gathering 48 of us, giving over 70 sessions! The schedule for The Hospital Fundraising Summit I've...
![[Guest Post] 4 Fundraising Questions for Your Board Chair](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/02230952/JohnFulwider-200w.jpg)
[Guest Post] 4 Fundraising Questions for Your Board Chair
I like John Fulwider. His energy, optimism, and experience make a powerful force for helping nonprofits. I suppose this is in part because of his expertise with Gallup's StrengthsFinder. He knows every organization and every leader has strengths and he's skilled at...
![[Question Marc] Help! My board wants to do another event!](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/02230953/HammerNail-FlickrHikingArtist-400w.jpg)
[Question Marc] Help! My board wants to do another event!
Dear Marc, Help!! My board wants to do ANOTHER fundraising event! We're already doing 10 events a year. How can I tell them we don't have the resources to do another one? Stressed in San Diego My Answer Dear Stressed, Oh no! I definitely feel your pain! I think your...
Celebrating your nonprofit – The Nonprofit Blog Carnival
The February Nonprofit Blog Carnival generated some interesting comments but not many blog posts. The call for posts was for creative ways to celebrate you cause. We seem to be a creative bunch...Many people said they loved this topic. But there weren't any blog post...
Celebrating your nonprofit – The Nonprofit Blog Carnival
The February Nonprofit Blog Carnival generated some interesting comments but not many blog posts. The call for posts was for creative ways to celebrate you cause. We seem to be a creative bunch...Many people said they loved this topic. But there weren't any blog post...
A surprising tweak to increase donor retention
I've worked alot on donor retention and often written about the importance of keeping the donors you already have. But in a recent webinar on storytelling for nonprofits, I had a rude awakening. The webinar was presented by the legendary fundraiser Ken Burnett. He was...
![[Guest Post] 3 Tips to Create Sustainable Nonprofit Systems](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/02230953/TycelyWilliams200w.png)
[Guest Post] 3 Tips to Create Sustainable Nonprofit Systems
I'm honored to introduce Tycely Williams. Tycely impresses me with her ability to create solutions for nonprofits that can be sustained even with small staffs. Here are some of her thoughts on helping let fundraising permeate all the areas of your nonprofit. She'll be...
![[Guest Post] Quitting the Culture Club – Why blaming a lack of culture of philanthropy is just plain lazy](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/02230955/D.McCormack-200w.jpg)
[Guest Post] Quitting the Culture Club – Why blaming a lack of culture of philanthropy is just plain lazy
A few weeks back, I was talking with Dan McCormack about an upcoming training. In the midst of our conversation, Dan said he didn't let his team use the term "a culture of philanthropy." His observations were so right, I asked if he'd do a guest blog post on this. I'm...
The biggest mental block to fundraising success – board members and nonprofit leaders
A couple weeks ago, I asked subscribers to the Ask Without Fear! email newsletter, "What is stopping you?" I've received over 100 responses from nonprofit leaders, fundraising staff, and board members! I'm still sorting through all of them, but a very common one is a...
50 Shades of Green – Standing up to violence against women
Invest #50ShadesofGreen to help end abuse Let's turn the multi-million corporate ad budget for 50 Shades of Grey on its head. My wife and I saw our friend JoAnne Hankey suggest people not see the movie but give the money they would've spent to a women's shelter....
Nonprofit Blog Carnival – Celebrating your nonprofit cause
Call for submissions: Deadline February 26th! It is my pleasure to be hosting the February Nonprofit Blog Carnival! With Valentine's Day in February, the last three years have focused on "loving": loving nonprofit staff loving donors and keeping them coming back and...
Are you lying to your nonprofit board members?
I'm not sure why it is, but so many of us outright lie when we invite people to our nonprofit board. We tell them, "It won't be a lot of work. And it will be alot of fun." But neither are totally true. Board work is work. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's routine....
Nonprofit Board Orientation – 3 tips to starting them right!
In a recent study, 75% of nonprofit executives said their board members weren't sufficiently engaged. 3 out of 4! With numbers that high, you know there has to be a systemic issue. Nonprofits are doing amazing things around the world. People work and volunteer at them...
What would you like to learn about nonprofit boards?
As we wrap up the year, it's amazing to see what a year it's been. Many of you are reporting increased donor retention, better storytelling results, and increased fundraising (some of you dramatic increases!). As I've been reflecting this year, I've been remembering...
![[Guest Post] How to Make Your Fundraising Plans for Next Year Better… and More Effective](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/02231001/joe-garecht_large.jpg)
[Guest Post] How to Make Your Fundraising Plans for Next Year Better… and More Effective
I've been enjoying Joe Garecht's work at The Fundraising Authority for years. And I'm thrilled that he'll be teaching in The Nonprofit Academy in January. He'll be teaching on How to Write a Successful Non-Profit Fundraising Plan, so I've invited him to share a few...
![[Guest Post] 5 Reasons Your Peer to Peer Program is Failing](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/02231001/davelinn200w.jpg)
[Guest Post] 5 Reasons Your Peer to Peer Program is Failing
Today, I've invited Dave Linn to teach about peer-to-peer fundraising. Having run bikathons and walkathons myself, I know how powerful they can be...and how much of a pain they can be too! Dave is the Chief Operating Officer of The Generosity Series, a series of...
5 truly useful gifts for travelers who fundraise
I've been seeing lots of "gifts for travelers" lists. Unfortunately, most of them are full of expensive items that are of questionable value. Do we really need $85 galoshes? Or a $70 light bulb? Here are some real gifts you can get your favorite traveling fundraiser!...
Training Your Board to Raise Money – a book for your new year
I love finding practical tools that can help nonprofits thrive. The new book Train Your Board (and Everyone Else) to Raise Money is just that. Crisis with nonprofit boards Gone are the days when boards could be rubber-stamping social clubs. More than ever, nonprofits...
![[Guest Post] Are you frustrated with some of your board members?](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/02231007/SimonePJFundCoaches-200w.jpg)
[Guest Post] Are you frustrated with some of your board members?
Today, I'm pleased to share with you a fun post by Simone Joyaux. Simone is one of the most provocative and insightful fundraising consultants I know. She is particularly good at working with boards and governance, so I asked her to write a piece in relation to her...
Ask Without Fear!® now in Chinese
We are thrilled to announce that Ask Without Fear!® is now available in Chinese! Thanks to the tranlators at Shantz Language Services, people raising support in China and in Chinese speaking populations around the world will be able to read Ask Without Fear! in...
Ask Without Fear!® now in Chinese
We are thrilled to announce that Ask Without Fear!® is now available in Chinese! Thanks to the tranlators at Shantz Language Services, people raising support in China and in Chinese speaking populations around the world will be able to read Ask Without Fear! in...
The power of thanking and #npstoryconf
Even though I'm currently doing fundraising trainings in Europe, I'm still basking in the glow of the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in Seattle. An amazing experience I've probably been to hundreds of conferences. But this one was like no other. A couple hundred...
Is your nonprofit fundraising ask like Al Roker’s #Rokerthon?
Legendary weatherman Al Roker is attempting to set a Guinness record for the longest weather broadcast with a 34-hour weather report. 34 hours! For every hour of reporting, he gets a 5-minute break. You can watch the #Rokerthon live here. Does your donor feel like...
Upcoming Fundraising Coach Speaking and Trainings
I am often asked where my next speaking events are. Here are the upcoming trainings and talks for November 2014 into January 2015. In addition to online events, I'll be on all over the USA and in two other countries! Updated 11/15/2014: Included PennyBridge's...