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Why I don't like crowdfunding
Speaking at a conference recently, fundraisers kept peppering me with questions related to fundraising. Some of those in the audience balanced their entire annual budget on a crowdfunding campaign....
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Is there plenty of room on your fundraising island?
As a nonprofit leader, when was the last time you recommended another nonprofit? Plenty of room on the island A while back, Seth Godin wrote about there being plenty of room on the island. He observed...
View ArticleHelp for funding your ministry
We've never met anyone who got into ministry to raise money. Most people sense God's call and start doing service in some area. People are excited for them and encourage them. In the initial rush of...
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Even in email fundraising location matters
Effective email fundraising can seem like a mystery. As a nonprofit, you take a lot of time to craft your email. You balance images with words. And you often build up to the ask. Unfortunately, donors...
View ArticleThe conundrum of corporate gifts
Last week, I was able to listen to a terrific discussion from business leaders about how their organizations make corporate gifts to charities. It's always good to hear the thought process of donors....
View ArticleDon't put off fundraising planning to the fall!
Summer. It stirs up thoughts trips, outdoor activities, and school break. A pause in the normal routines of life. Even though we're no longer in school, we still let that "summer mentality" affect us....
View ArticleGuilt, stories, and fundraising
A while back, I received a call from an ALS Foundation. The call was awful. So awful, I've waited over a year and a half to write about it. Long enough that I don't remember exactly which ALS...
View Article4 hours of free leadership, goal-setting, and fundraising training
As much as I love to do in-person leadership and fundraising trainings, sometimes you just can't get to them. So webinars can be incredibly helpful. Over the last few months, I've done webinars for...
View Article2 types of nonprofit stories – and the one that drives donations
I've just getting back from the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference so it’s likely no surprise stories are on my mind. At the conference this year, I noticed talk about 2 types of nonprofit stories. I...
View ArticleThe new tax bill's aftermath doesn't need to be the end of your nonprofit
There are dire warnings in the United States press about the huge drop in charitable giving coming in 2018. Even groups who should know better, like AFP - the Association of Fundraising Professionals,...
View ArticleHe's rich. Now what?
I've been getting the same type of question from a wide variety of nonprofit leaders in many different sectors. The question goes something like this: "This guy is rich. What's my next step?" Part of...
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[Guest Post] The Science of Giving: Why Your Brain Craves Meaning
The Science of Giving: Why Your Brain Craves Meaning by Laura A. Roser Your brain is a meaning magnet. It can’t help it; it’s been conditioned. Since the hunter and gatherer days, humans have tried to...
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Are you able to sharpen your saw?
I've been talking to a lot of amazing nonprofit leaders and staff. Our sector is full of some of the most dedicated people! But dedication seems to go only so far, doesn't it? With all the hard work,...
View ArticleWhat do you offer?
Listen to a direct mail specialist like Tom Ahern or Steven Screen talk about fundraising for any length of time and you'll hear them constantly talking about "offers." You need clear offers. Test...
View ArticleAre you making a specific fundraising offer or reverting to "join us"?
I recently wrote about the importance of your fundraising offer. This post has gotten more response from readers than most. And it's captured the attention of my private coaching clients so much many...
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Will you take the Red Pen Challenge?
Fundraising is a counter-intuitive profession. But it is a profession. Experts research fundraising tactics and test strategies to find out what works. Often, the results seem illogical. Like is the...
View Article3 Things to Stop Doing in Your Thank You's to Donors
I just returned from a training where I got to hear Mary Cahalane teach on writing good thank you letters. Studies estimate that 53% of donors who stop giving to a nonprofit stop due to the nonprofit's...
View ArticleHappy (Fiscal) New Year
Years ago, I recorded this "Thank you for fundraisers." I wanted to get it out early this year to give you the extra "umphf" to push through these last few days of the fiscal year. (If your fiscal year...
View ArticleMake the most of the summer
Last week, I sent my Fundraising Kick subscribers a couple ideas on how to make the most of the different pace of the summer. Although Kicks are written for nonprofit CEO's, I thought this might be...
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Are you telling the RIGHT story in your fundraising?
Steven Screen is at it again. Steven is an amazing direct mail and fundraising expert. And he has a way of making me feel uncomfortable. He says the best story for raising money is the "incomplete...
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