Dialing for dollars (directions & fundraising script)
For many of us, June is the end of the fiscal year. Most donors could care less. But that doesn't mean we can slack off! A deadline is a great motivator. So even if it is a deadline that makes no sense to donors (donors think in terms of the tax year), it can still...
Building your nonprofit’s email list
Back in 2000, I used email to raise $100,000 in six weeks. I wrote about it in "The $100,000 Guide to Email Solicitation." (You can buy it in the Fundraising Coach Store but I give it away free to everyone who signs up for my free email newsletter.) People tell me...
[Question Marc] Striking out with grants
I am working for a non-profit and recently have begun writing agency grants as well. This organization in the past has never relied on grants, but instead on funding from two fundraisers and the state and federal monies. However, it seems that all of the foundations...
2 phrases to use when asking for money
I normally speak to large groups at conferences or to smaller groups of board members, but I've been privileged to do a lot of one-on-one major gift fundraising training this year. One of the most common questions I am getting from nonprofit employees and board...
The 3 best times to ask for money
Lots of us will be thinking about how to be more "green" since today is Earth Day. But how can we make our nonprofits more green? As in taking in more dollars? Ask! You knew that was coming, didn't you? Asking for money is where the magic happens! The 3 Best Times to...
3 Common Questions about 100 Donors in 90 Days
Since launching "100 Donors in 90 Days" on Monday, we've had many folks email and ask us some questions about it. There have been three main questions asked about the system, I emailed the answers to those on my newsletter list earlier today. But I figured more of you...
Don’t turn to the “dark side”
We fundraisers are a fascinating group of talented individuals. But this year, I'm seeing many of us talk ourselves out of asking for money, even when the donors have told us they'll give! I guess it should make sense: successful fundraisers need to be good...
Could you use 100 new donors in the next 90 days?
As the one-person development office at a rural hospital, my CEO kept asking me: "Why are we going back to the same people? When are you going to find new people?" He wasn't impressed by all the statistical and logical answers about donor retention and most of the...
![[Question Marc] When do you ask a person on Twitter to follow you?](https://cdn.fundraisingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/02231313/questionmarc.jpg)
[Question Marc] When do you ask a person on Twitter to follow you?
I just received this question: When is there an appropriate time to ask someone on twitter to follow you? My quick answer is "never." Asking people to follow you on Twitter makes you sound a bit whiny and desperate. Following is a personal thing. People follow others...
Are your politics hindering your fundraising?
A few weeks ago I sent a version of this to my Fundraising Kick subscribers. But I'm seeing someting that will seriously impair your fundraising so I wanted to share it with you too. Fundraisers: Stop the political vitriol! If we live in a democracy, we need to be...
Social Media: How to convince your boss
Every week or so, I get a question like I did last night. It was basically, "How do you convince your boss to let me use social media?" So being a social media geek, I immediately posted the question on LinkedIn's "Answers" tool. You can see the question and the...
Nine Free Fundraising Classes
The Nonprofit Telesummit Tomorrow is the beginning of a free three day nonprofit training event. Happening from March 7 - 9, it's called the Nonprofit Telesummit. Nine nonprofit and fundraising experts will be sharing sessions on things like: How to get your board...
Nonprofit Blog Carnival – Self-care for nonprofit staff and fundraisers
Nonprofit's can be incredibly crushing places to work. We give all we have because we believe in our cause. Our passion is admirable but leads to bad choices about our own lives. I'd argue this is especially true for fundraisers. People don't really get what we do....
Is your nonprofit board socializing enough?
In the last 24 hours, I've heard 6 different commentators talk about the polarization of our US government being exacerbated by the fact that no one socializes anymore. Ok. I was one of the people. And I was talking to my aunt and uncle in a restaurant in Hanover, NH....
Fundraising secrets aren’t so secret
I am fond of saying that "fundraising is an extreme sport." Like great athletes, fundraisers need to focus on the basics. At Blog World Expo last November I got to do a live interview with Susan McLennan about those basics, treating people with respect, and an easy...
Valentine’s Day for fundraisers – showing yourself the love
Thank you! As a fundraiser for a nonprofit cause, you are changing the world. Making it a better place. We need people like you! Loving the askers If we're good at fundraising, we spend considerable time thinking about how to best thank our donors. We throw galas,...
Upcoming Fundraising Coach training events in Nebraska & San Antonio
My upcoming fundraising training seminars take me to Omaha, Nebraska; Lincoln, Nebraska; and San Antonio, Texas, including a rare public seminar there! Thursday, February 23: AFP- Nebraska Luncheon "Who's Telling YOUR Story?" FMI:...
Nonprofit fundraising & Groundhog Day’s Ned Ryerson
Happy Groundhog Day! It's become my Groundhog Day tradition to repost my 2008 post: Fundraising Secret #11: Don't Be A Ned. Enjoy! (And don't be a Ned!) Fundraising Secret #11: Don't be a Ned Click on the image to watch the clip. Does this sound like your fundraising...
How do you take care of yourself? | Nonprofit Blog Carnival
I'm thrilled to be hosting the Nonprofit Blog Carnival for February! Since Valentines' Day is this month, the Carnival topic is: As a fundraiser, how do you take care of yourself? I believe fundraising is the best profession in the world! But it can be incredibly...
How to create a road map for your goals
The first month of the year is gone! Now is a great time to review your goals. (I have blogged about goal setting here.) As you review your goals, you may find your behind on some. Creating a road map will help jump start those goals. To create a goals road map follow...
Free nonprofit tools from 10 different experts!
I'm thrilled to be participating in the Nonprofit Goodies Giveaway! 10 of us have gotten together to offer: 5 free ebooks including the Wild Woman's Guide to Fundraising and my own Ask Without Fear!, 2 free workbooks, 2 free trainings, and one free Donor Map. On the...
Brief rant: YOU ARE NOT YOUR PERFECT DONOR!
[Warning: Rant in progress] In my book Ask Without Fear!, I encourage fundraisers to PYITS--put yourself in their shoes. Thinking like the donor or prospect can save you lots of embarrassment in the process of asking for money. But never forget: you are not your...
MLK and your nonprofit fundraising
In the United States we're honoring the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. I'm sure many people will be posting about the "I have a dream" speech. I get so inspired reading his speech. We in the nonprofit world sure know about dreams! We see the world both as it is and...
Job Opening: Campaign Assistant
I often have people tell me about job openings. But now I get to share one! I'm working on a capital campaign in Lebanon, NH at the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital. And APD is looking to hire a campaign assistant. The position is part-time and Raisers Edge experience...
New Year Resolution: Ask More!
Whether you love or hate New Year Resolutions, millions of people use January 1 to start new habits. As a result, I've been asked by several bloggers and magazines what New Year resolution I would suggest people make. My answer for nonprofit folks? Ask more. If you...
Add Google+ to your New Year Resolutions
Did you watch CNN this morning? It reported Paul Allen's stats that Google+ growth is exceeding expectations. According to him, Google is now over 62 million users and adding about 625,000 new users every day. His prediction? Google+ will have over 400 million users...
How to set up multiple admins for your Google+ page
Nonprofits, businesses, and geeks alike were thrilled when Google+ finally rolled out business pages back in November 2011. But one of the huge limitations of pages were the limit of only one admin per page. Any time a business or nonprofit wanted to post something,...
3 tips for fundraising in the last week of the year
People love deadlines This week is a huge week for giving! Christmas is over but there are still a few days before the end of the tax year. People are motivated by deadlines. And the end of the calendar year is a powerful deadline. Use it to your advantage. Make the...
Setting 2012 Goals and Christmas
This afternoon, I was working on my "List of 100 Things to do in 2012." While doing it, I asked my 12 year old son, "If there were one thing you and I could do together in 2012, what would it be?" He freaked out. He dramatically slumped on the kitchen counter and then...
2 easy ways to get free PR in 2012
One of your 2012 New Years resolutions should be to get more media for your nonprofit. No matter how big your marketing budget is, chances are great that you could use more exposure. More postitive exposure! I know for nonprofits, it's much easier to fundraise when...