How NOT to write a fundraising letter
Have you ever written a fundraising letter? A fundraising letter you felt really proud about? One that presented your nonprofit in an amazing light. That showed how good you were working in your cause....
View ArticleLeadership and Fundraising in a Pandemic
This week, I was honored to be the guest on Eliz Greene and Thom Singer's show, The Webinar Talk Show. We talked about leadership, fundraising, events, and sales in a pandemic. I loved Eliz's story...
View ArticleAsking is (almost) more about listening
In the last few weeks, Iâve had interesting conversations with people about asking. CEOs who think that asking is a âschpealâ â a precise formula of words that will get the prospect to give generously....
View ArticleThanking donors is NOT an activity report
Fundraising is filled with things that seem to make sense, but don't. One of those areas is when it comes to thanking donors. When we thank donors, we think we need to prove to them that we did great...
View Article3 Things to do Now to Successfully Finish Year-end Fundraising
There is so much information on year-end fundraising out there right now. And, let's face it, so many of us are tired. Ready to stop. But if you run a nonprofit or run nonprofit fundraising, this is...
View ArticleDoubt in fundraising isn't surprising - it just might be a gift
There are a number of misconceptions about what being a successful nonprofit leader and fundraiser looks like. One of the most common is that the leader needs to be 100% confident. Completely sure...
View ArticleWe're not selling t-shirts
Fundraising isn't just about raising money one time. If it were, we could sell t-shirts. Fundraising is about connecting values - the values of donors with the values of your cause. Sure, there are...
View Article4 specific tips for each stage of the ask
When it comes down to it, successful fundraising is about successfully executing the basics. When you want to raise money for something, be sure to do these fundraising basics: Research Remember, run...
View Article3 problems with the major gift as carrot analogy
Have you ever been about to ask for a major gift only to be warned about the carrot in the garden? It goes something like this: "Sure, you could ask them now. But it might be better to wait. You see,...
View ArticleGoing beyond a no in your nonprofit fundraising ask
I recently heard author Andrea Waltz remind fundraisers to "go for no!" (That's the name of her book too.) It's a reminder that too often we give up before the donor has really made a decision....
View ArticleShould I ask my friends?
One of the scariest things about fundraising is the fear that you'll ruin relationships. One of the most common questions I get as a fundraising coach is "Should I send this appeal to people I hangout...
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A nonprofit fundraising plan that adjusts with the time
Today's guest post is from T. Clay Buck, Founder & Principal of TCBFundraising. A Master Trainer, Clay also teaches at the University of Nevada. He's been on all sides of a nonprofit - running the...
View ArticleFire that donor!
Money does weird things to us, doesn't it? A lack of money leads nonprofits to a growing desperation. A feeling they "need" every donor. Anyone who'll give them money. Including bullies. But sometimes,...
View ArticleFundraising Kick: Don't Grow Weary
This issue of the weekly Fundraising Kick seems to have come at the perfect time for subscribers. So I'm sharing it here as well. Fundraising Kick coaching emails are written for busy nonprofit CEOs...
View ArticleThe biggest mistake with major gift asks
One of the biggest mistakes I see with major gift solicitations is incredibly easy to fix. If you've ever made an appointment for a major gift ask, you've probably felt the stress of "getting it...
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4 Fundraising Tips for your Nonprofit from Jerry Panas
Facebook used this picture to remind me that twelve years ago, I was with Jerry Panas at a fundraising training at the University of Southern Maine. What struck me about the picture is the pad of paper...
View ArticleFundraising in Uncertain Times
Last week, I blogged about leading in uncertain times. It's gotten the most feedback of any blog post this year. As I've been thinking about it, the three things that help leading through uncertain...
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Fundraising is leading - from within
I've said for years that fundraising is all about leadership. And we all have leadership opportunities, even if we don't have leadership titles. One of the best ways to grow in our ability to lead is...
View ArticleThe 2 things to avoid in year end fundraising
With 4 weeks left in the calendar year, staying focused is more important than ever. Rather than feeling like you're living out a well planned fundraising year, these last four weeks can often feel...
View ArticleJust ask!
I've been doing LOTS of trainings in the last few months. And getting a lot of the same types of questions. They generally sound like: "How do I know when a right time to ask so-and-so?" "How do I know...
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