Another take on mobile giving
After my post about mobile giving apps, I learned about a new free app called TexTango. The idea isn't specifically for nonprofits. This app pays you to text. You download it for free and there is no monthly fee. By using this app instead of your phone's native SMS...
5 tips for email fundraising
This summer is my class reunion from Milton Academy. (A George Bush was president when I graduated but I won't tell you which one.) All reunions have class gifts. As a fundraising coach, I figured fundraising from my classmates should be a cinch. It wasn't! I found...
Ask Without Fear turns 3 and is now worth $142.96
It's been three years since Ask Without Fear! came out! What a wild ride it's been! I wrote Ask Without Fear! because there were so many wonderful causes here in Maine with amazingly passionate volunteers, but they were chronically underfunded. A few could afford to...
12 travel tips for the flying fundraiser
Last week, Chris Brogan offered an extensive list of travel tips. He asked what we'd add here are some of mine. There are some duplicates, but that's just how it is. Read Chris' Tips for Flying post and the comments There are some incredibly helpful tips in the post...
The Force and Fundraising
Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th has become an unofficial Star Wars holiday, given the pun on "May the Force be with you." (Back in Catholic school, my friends and I would respond, "And also with you." Being extra witty--in my own mind--I replied "This is a reading...
1 simple change to make your blog comments stand out
Commenting on blogs is a great way to grow your online community and to make connections with people. Blog comment basics We all know blog posts shouldn't be spammy or sales pitches. Ok, not everyone knows this, but it would be nice if they did! Comments should be on...
3 Ways that Fundraising is like the Royal Wedding
I woke up this morning to my Twitter stream being filled with tweets about the royal wedding--both people watching it and people tweeting about people watching it! Those tweets got me thinking about fundraising...because that's just how I am. 🙂 3 Ways the Royal...
How to use Twitter lists
Yesterday, I showed you how to How to build a Twitter list. Now that you can make them, how should you use them? Types of lists You could create lists of: boards members and your assigned donors: you'll be able to build relationships right from your desk people with...
How to build a Twitter list
It's no secret that I love Twitter. But all the tweets in one stream can be completely overwhelming. Years ago, there was a time when I'd get home from work and my wife would ask, "Did you see my tweet?" Well, I hadn't. And I felt awful. I'd seen lots of tweets, but...
Show ’em you love ’em
April is "volunteer appreciation" month. Last week, the ED of a nonprofit gave whoopie pies to each of us on the board. In presenting them, she said, "April is volunteer appreciation month. So each year we do something to say 'thank you' to each of you on the board....
Google’s at it again
If you use Gmail, have you noticed the new "also include" feature? I was writing an email to Rob Hatch. Since Google saw that, it suggested I might want to cc Estrella Rosenberg and John Haydon as well. The cool thing is, I often do email all three of them at the same...
How to target your nonprofit ads in Facebook
I was just checking in with Facebook, when an NTEN ad caught my eye. It wasn't the image. (Not sure what that is.) But it was the "You're already a fan of NTEN..." line. Let's face it, most Facebook ads are as effective as community bulletin boards at the...
Influential Fundraisers Poll – Fundraising Magazine
Earlier this week, I read Mark Phillips post Who should influence fundraisers? Make your vote count. In the spirit of his post, I'll list the names of the 10 people I voted for. First, please choose to not be offended if your name isn't on this list. I have the...
How to make more money with your next silent auction
This week, I'm pleased to introduce Sherry Truhlar. Sherry is an auction expert so I've asked her to come and share with us how to make our nonprofit's next silent auction better. Be sure to check out her free guide of auction items -- listing the 100 best-selling...
You need Kivi’s Nonprofit Marketing Guide
I just finished The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause [amazon affiliate link]. I've had it for a few months now. I kept getting hung up with it because the book is so darned actionable. Kivi knows her stuff. One...
5 Twitter Tips for Fundraisers
It's no secret that I love Twitter. Here are five tips to help you make better use of Twitter. Be human and interesting One of the worst things you can do as a fundraiser on Twitter is broadcast about your cause all day long. This will bore people. Social media is...
Go For No for Fundraising Success recording now available
We had a fabulous call with Go For No! author Andrea Waltz. You can here the entire 30-minute call at the Go For No for Fundraising Success webinar page. I loved how Andrea talked about our living in a "go for yes" world but transitioning to a "go for no" world. So...
Mobile giving? There’s an app for that!
When you ask people about making a donation through their phone, they usually think of texting donations like they do for the Red Cross. That is about to change. A growing number of services are allowing people to give donations from their phone. And services allowing...
Pollyanna Principles Revisited
It's hard to believe it's been two years since my friend and colleague Hildy Gottlieb's book The Pollyanna Principles was released. Her thoughts and ideas keep coming to mind, especially in my role as a board member for various nonprofits. Here are a sampling of what...
Free seminar and win a free coaching session!
Those on my Fundraising Kick email list already know that April is Go For No! month here at FundraisingCoach.com! Go For No! [amazon affiliate link] is a wonderfully short story about how one salesman found going for "yes" led to mediocrity but going for "no" led to...
Rant in progress: You’re going to have to ask!
[Warning: Rant in progress] It's happening again. I'm having lots of conversations with people that want an out. They want to know the magic mailing that will bring in lots of gifts. Or some magic event that will be a sure thing. These people claim to be interested in...
How to survive as a small shop
I'm really pleased to introduce you to Tina Cincotti of Funding Change. When I saw this in her email newsletter, I asked her if I could share it with you. I'm glad she said yes! Be sure to sign up for her monthly Keep the Change newsletter. How to survive as a small...
How a war in Libya can kill your website
When it comes to registering domain names, most people will choose top level domains like ".com," ".org," and ".net". But there are so many other options. My domain registrar, Joker.com lists 23 other options. And there are definitely more! Some sites have had a great...
The Role of the Executive Director in a Development Database, Part 3
Today we have the third installment in Sandy's three part series on the nonprofit executive's role with a development database. The first part included Excel isn't a database and the second part reminded EDs you don't have to be a geek. You can reach Sandy on Twitter...
The Role of the Executive Director in a Development Database, Part 2
This is the second part of a three part series on the executive director's role with a development database. The first part included Excel is not a database by Sandy Wilder In Part 1 of our series, we addressed the first of our issues regarding Excel vs. the database...
The Role of the Executive Director in a Development Database
Today, I'm super excited to introduce, Sandy Wilder. Sandy is a database whiz and the BEST Raisers' Edge trainer I've ever learned from. I've been bugging her for her thoughts on the ED's role with a fundraising database. A version of this series inside...
What Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Peas taught me about nonprofit fundraising
Last week I heard Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" for the first time. The song is basically a few lines of lyrics repeated over and over. And it topped the charts in popularity. Listening to Katy Perry got me thinking about fundraising. Her song reminded me of the Black...
How to Make Your Fundraising Efforts Go Viral
Today's guest post is from Joe Garecht. Joe is the founder of The Fundraising Authority, a website that offers free articles and advice on raising money for small and medium-sized non-profits. He's got some great tips on positioning your fundraising appeal to go...
Cool gigs this week! One might be near you!
I've just finished my final polish on my slides for the three talks I'm doing this week. I'm so excited! These are going to be great trainings! The LinkedBook? Wednesday, I'm giving 3-hour training on how to effectively use social media for individuals and small...
Fundraising Training Videos now available online!
I'm thrilled to be able to announce that my publisher, 501 Videos, has made the Ask Without Fear DVD set available online! Now you have the opportunity to get the DVD or have a lifetime membership to a site with the full set of videos, forms, and resources available...