FREE: “Join” the FundraisingCoach.com page & connect with others raising money for their cause!!
I love the benefits of social media: the ability to make connections, meet people I'd never meet staying here in Maine, two-way conversation rather than simply one-way broadcasting, etc. So I've added Google FriendConnect to my site. Just go to...
10 Tips for Fundraising in a Recession
A reporter interviewed me earlier this week for a story on fundraising in a recession. As a follow up, he asked if I had tips to give nonprofits. Here's what I wrote. I hope they're helpful! Keep Asking! Treat your donor like an adult and let her make the decision...
Fundraising Secret #28: Nobody wants to buy a drill
In Secrets of Closing the Sale, Zig Ziglar says: Each year over 5 million quarter-inch drills are sold, yet it's safe to say that nobody wants a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole. Isn't that great? We do that in fundraising too. Donations are our...
Online fundraising idea for Black Friday & Cyber Monday
I love The Boston Project. They do amazing work and have a long track record of effectiveness. They're also one of the best I've ever seen at telling stories that reinforce their mission. Readers of my blog know that I'm a fan of good nonprofit storytelling! Today I...
Donor-centered fundraising or schpeal-centered?
Does your fundraising conversation with donors look like this: Or is it more like this? Donor Centered Fundraising We tend to sell tools: tax-deductions, planned giving tools, stock transfers. We get all wrapped up in them. Fundraising tools should always be...
Americans continue to be generous
The Chronicle of Philanthropy highlighted an article in the Washington Post: Americans still giving, despite economic meltdown. Kudos to the Washington Post and the AP. It's great to see more media outlets talking about fundraising in a recession using the actual data...
Thoughts on generational fundraising
FundRaising Success has a nice summary of a talk given by Blackbaud's Samantha Cohen. As I Gen-Xer myself, I found this quote particularly compelling. “Tell them you want to end world hunger, and they’ll say, ‘No, you’re not,’” she said. “Tell them you want to put a...
Fundraising Secret #27: The basics ARE extreme
Last week, Lois Lindauer summed up some fundraising advice as: Keep Your Friends Close and Your Donors Closer: At a recent gathering of executive-level fundraisers in Boston, the following suggestions and thoughts for working during these uncertain times were...
Whining is not a fundraising strategy
Debra Blum of The Chronicle of Philanthropy has a great summary of comments from Reynold Levy, president of the
Fundraising Secret #26: You gotta do it yourself
This week I've had two conversations with founders of nonprofits. I've had to tell both the unwelcome truth: you're going to have to do the fundraising yourself. This was a bitter pill for both of them. You see, they'd created their nonprofit because of their passion....
“Survival” is NOT a fundraising appeal
Today the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported on a seemingly provocative comments from the head of the Wal-Mart Foundation, Margaret McKenna. According to the Boston Herald, she said some charities should fail. I whole heartedly agree. Some nonprofits should fail. Just...
There’s nothing compassionate about not asking!
Turn on any news program and you'll hear about how bad the economy is. But I've been hearing some even more disturbing news: some nonprofits are telling their donors "we know the economy is rough so we won't ask you for money." Don't do that! Compassion during times...
Even MORE on Twitter for Nonprofits
Brian Solis wrote an amazing post today listing loads of Twitter tools for building community. In his post, he gives a description and links to each of these tools: twubble GroupTweet twitt(url)y TwitLinks TweetDeck Gridjit Tweet Later Twist Twerp Scan Summize Twemes...
Alternative Nonprofit Marketing?
I just spent 4 hours in the rain putting these signs for our Fall Pops Benefit Concert. The industry calls them "yard signs." I'm hoping that they'll catch people off guard in the midst of the signs of the political candidates! It's a good reminder that as fun as web...
More Twitter for Nonprofits
I'm pleased that my Twitter for Nonprofits blog post is helping people venture into Twitter and other social media! After that post, a fellow Twitter follower, Jon Swanson, recommended following Cheryl Smith of CultureSmith Consulting. I agree! Her blog has great tips...
Twitter for Nonprofits
Twitter is a great free tool. And in a time of economic uncertainty, a free tool is a welcome help! Twitter is called "microblogging." You get 140 characters to get your message across. 140 characters to answer the question on the Twitter home page: "What are you...
Ways to help spread the word
Thanks to your efforts, Ask Without Fear! is getting: wonderful reviews on Amazon, tremendous responses from board members that are getting fired up about fundraising, listed as "must reads" on blogs and in FundRaisingSuccess Magazine, and mentions in the Chronicle of...
Are you trying to sell a bailout?
Chris Busch has an interesting comment about the "branding" of the bailout bill. He comments that since nobody likes a bailout, terms like "workout" should be used instead. The branding of the legislation is shifting already. I'm intrigued to hear a lot more pundits...
Fundraising Secret #25: Keepers of the Lore
One of the biggest jobs in we in development have is being "keepers of the lore." So often our organizations are so focused on the present--being the best they can at their mission--and the future--strategizing where they're going and how they'll get there--that they...
FDIC insured? Check again
The Don't Tell the Donor Blog had a chilling link to a New York Times article. Here's a quote from the article: About 30 nonprofit agencies that held several accounts at Freedom, each with less than $100,000, lost money because the F.D.I.C. considers the multiple...
Nonprofit hospitals still raise Sen. Grassley’s ire
The Chronicle of Philanthropy is reporting that Sen. Grassley is continuing his push to increase regulations on nonprofit hospitals. I work in one and didn't think the regulation could get any tighter--especially for small community hospitals with a large reliance on...
The Pentagon Memorial and the importance of asking without fear
The Washington Post did a great story on the Pentagon memorial called From Families' Grief, a Symbol of Loss and Hope. This is a must read for fundraisers. It talks about how Jim Laychak worked through funding hurdles and his own emotions of losing his brother on...
More on what really annoys your donors
My blog post What really bugs your donors? has gotten a lot of traffic. I've received over 100 responses between the question on LinkedIn, the comments on the blog, and emails sent directly to me! I've been amazed at how relieved people are that someone finally asked...
Help getting into Starbucks
Could I ask you a big Friday favor? Would you help me get Ask Without Fear! into Starbucks stores? My local baristas strongly encouraged me to try to get Ask Without Fear! into Starbucks in conjunction with the National Philanthropy days in November. The...
Feeling guilty about not raising enough money?
I'm really excited to be offering a full day of "Ask Without Fear!" training here in Waterville, ME on Saturday, September 13. This training will be ideal for board members and volunteers who are feeling guilty that they're not doing as much fundraising as they think...
Fundraising Secret #24: Take Time for Yourself Daily
Fundraising can be a grueling occupation. Strategizing, planning, writing, dreaming, asking. Facing rejection day after day. Having people raise the goal year after year. As much as I love it, fundraising can wear you down. That's why Fundraising Secret #24 is: Take...
Book signing at Borders in Bangor!
Today was my first Borders book signing. Honestly, I don't "get" the idea behind a booksigning. I'm still not, but I did sell 18 copies Ask Without Fear!, despite the amazingly dry, sunny weather outside. I guess that just may be the point, eh? Selling books? :)...
Do you know what REALLY bugs your donors?
As you all know, I'm a big believer in actually asking donors what they think rather than trying to read their mind. So yesterday I posted this question on LinkedIn.com: As a donor to charity, what do we nonprofits do that REALLY annoys the tar out of you? What do we...
Invasion of Privacy or Customer Service?
The Chronicle of Philanthropy's Prospecting blog has an interesting post about a new planned giving tool. Apparently, it's a CD that donors can play to see the benefits of making a planned gifts and a charity can customize it to be the "charity of choice" for the...
Check out these “Don’t ‘Almost’ Give” ads!
I just saw a very interest ad by the Ad Council. It was about the things that "almost" happened because people "almost" gave! Check out the ads at: Don't Almost Give. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: "No one could make a greater mistake than he who did...