Free Handouts – GISA wrap up
This past Monday, I had the honor of speaking to the enthusiastic members of the Georgia Independent School Association. They invited my in to speak on the three topics: importance of storytelling, how to ask for money, and how to handle objections. In this edition of...
Great Donor Evangelists tips
Check out this Creating Passionate Users blog post for some tips directly related to creating donor evangelists. I'm intrigued by the sticker concept.
How are the 100 Days?
May 18 is coming faster than you know! How are you doing on your 100 day commitment? I don't know about you but I'm finding it incredibly easy to fill my time with minutia. You know...cleaning the desk, moving the computer moniter, grabbing a coffee. At times like...
Why wouldn’t you report it?
I just don't get this. Why wouldn't you report being an officer in a family run philanthropy? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and two other Democratic Congressional leaders failed to report their positions as officers in family charities as required by Congressional...
Do-It-Yourself Fundraising: How to Get Money for Your Nonprofit
Here's a free article for people that want to learn how to get money for your nonprofit: Do It Yourself Fundraising Let me know if it's helpful!
Design
Sorry for the many design changes over the last couple weeks. To quote U2: I still haven't found what I'm looking for. But the upgrade of Wordpress to 2.1 necessitated another change!
The Rule of Threes
I'm giving a talk on the Rule of Threes in February. I love using this tool with organizations to help streamline their story. I'd like to add to my collection of "success" stories. If you've used this tool, would you share the results with me? You can leave a comment...
Part of the Carnival
I'm honored to be included in the Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants with a bunch of other great posts. This week the Carnival is hosted at Jeff Brook's Donor Power Blog.
Starting where you are?
Jeff Brooks at Donor Power Blog has a great example of what I was talking about earlier this week in Where You Start Matters. Check out this post which shows an actual letter Jeff got from a nonprofit he doesn't give to. It's scary to think they talk about themselves...
3 Great Times to Ask for a Gift
Jeff Brooks over at the Donor Power Blog has another great post: 3 little-known best times to ask a donor for money If you're not regularly reading this blog, you should put it on your Bloglines before the day is out!
Where You Start Matters!
Reading Andy Goodman's "Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes" reminded me of my post on the Scottish nonprofit Engage's national ad campaign. Goodman says most presenters start with the question "What do I want to say?" And starting here is fatal. You may craft...
Speaking at GISA’s Advance Workshop
I'm honored to be participating in the Georgia Independent School's Association's annual "Advance Workshop" on Monday, February 12. I'll be giving a talk on storytelling and two sessions on fundraising. For a PDF of the program, click here. If you work in schools in...
Denver’s Glass House
On his blog, Seth Godin posts about a $140 million permission project. Take a close look at the sales process these guys used. Wouldn't an approach like this make capital campaigns much simpler?
Tithing makes the news
Seems the age-old, pre-Moses tradition of tithing is still a timely news topic. Check out Tithing Evolves. Our church received enough requests that we put a link for electronic giving on our site: http://www.vcwaterville.org/resources.htm#offering Just last Sunday we...
Clock’s ticking
The clock's ticking. From my count, the 100th business day of 2007 is Tuesday, May 22. (I'm assuming you didn't work on New Year's Day or on President's Day.) This clock shows how much time you have left. [Update: Apparently the applet isn't supported on the blog. You...
Speak Out: Edgy Ad Campaign
Wow. Strong message, isn't it? As a rule, I tend to favor boldness. But I'm not sure what the point of this message is. Is it to guilt people into giving to kids too? Is it a sophisticated (and costly) way to throw a tantrum and say, "It's not fairt!"? EvidentlyÂ...
The first 100 days of 2007
It's a new year! Do you have a plan for making this your best year yet? In today's issue, Nick Fellers from ForImpact.org share's a powerful way to get it off to a great start 100 Day Blitz by Nick Fellers When I'm working with an organization I like to finish our...
Gift Range Calculator
Looks like Blackbaud's moved the Gift Range Calculator to their site. Give it a whirl. It's a very useful tool!
It could happen to you!
Here's a great story about a woman that left more than $2 million to some local Maine nonprofits. Ilse Westman kept a low profile. When she died in August, she didn't want an obituary in the newspaper, said her longtime friend and attorney, Warren E. Winslow, Jr. She...
Galas–the dying gasp of poor fundraising?
The end of the year is rapidly approaching, so I thought I'd keep this issue of Extreme Fundraising light-hearted. Read this posting from Amy Kincaid and her Fundraising Breakthroughs blog gave me the fodder for this riff. This was posted on her blog: Quotable...
Survey: Year-end Giving
Are any of you trying anything new of different this year for your year-end fundraising? At Inland, we held a widely successful "Fall Pops Concert" in early November. What about you? If you are, post a comment below and contact Elizabeth Schwinn with the Chronicle of...
The Fundraising Coach’s Master Mind Group
Start your new year off right with the Fundraising Coach's Master Mind Group! This special 6-week course, limited to only 12 participants, will focus on the process for asking for money. Since it takes place over the course of a month and a half, you have the chance...
Phone etiquette II
Here's a follow up to my Dialing for Donor (visits) post: Don't be the first to hang up the phone at the end of the call. It just happened to me yesterday. I chatted for close to a half hour with a friend I hadn't connected with in over a year. When we ended the call,...
Do you dare?
I love feedback. I wouid probably constantly take surveys and assessments if I could. So I loved this idea from Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog as shared by Jeff Brooks on his Donor Power Blog: "Be Your Donor" day. Read the post and then give it a try.
Mixing careers
I started pastoring VCW after a decade of fundraising. I love pastoring and teaching on financial stewardship but I've been intrigued with the donor stewardship issues. We once got a $5000 check--HUGE for our small, central Maine congregation. As a fundraiser, my...
Dialing for Donor (visits)
I don't talk much about the use of the telephone. I guess I've been scarred by too many phonathons. But the phone is an incredibly important tool in the R.E.A.L. process of asking for money. Especially in getting a solicitation visit. In his terrific book Asking: A...
The store you’ve been waiting for
I'm sure you've been wondering what to get your favorite fundraiser. Check out the Fundraising Coach store at http://www.cafepress.com/frcoach. It's the home of "fundraising is an extreme sport" gear! 😉
An Ode to Fundraisers
A fundraisier stood at the heavenly gate, His face was scarred and old. He stood before the man of fate For admission to the fold. "What have you done," Saint Peter said, "To gain admission here?" "I've been a fundraiser, sir, "For many and many a year." The pearly...
Hospital Fundraising in the Boston Globe
Check out this article in the Boston Globe. Is there a way your nonprofit could adapt the cause-focused "leadership council" idea to advance your donor-centered fundraising?
eTithe
I used our snazzy Google Checkout button to do my offering today! Quick, a lot easier than PayPal, and I didn't forget to bring it to church. If you're going to try using it yourself there are two minor irritants: You must created a button with fields for the varying...