Pamela Grow

What's the one thing that your organization can do to truly connect with your donors on a deeper level, lead to greater bequest giving and grow your sustainable income—all at the same time? If you guessed monthly giving, you're right!

For the past several years, we’ve been advising smart fundraisers to zero in on their individual giving program with a laser-like intensity. And despite the current political and fundraising climate—or perhaps especially because of the current climate—that’s still sound advice. How will you be increasing fundraising revenue AND strengthening donor relationships in 2019? Make plans…

Great fundraising is focused on the long-term—taking that donor from first-time gift… to lifetime. And it’s built around the science of human behavior and what actually works. We see it time and time again: the very practice of donor-centricity leads to community...

Do you remember my previous blog post titled “Stay or Leave? Pros and Cons of Changing Jobs”? If you’ve been in the sector for any length of time, you’ve probably experienced the following...

When a donor makes an “in-memoriam” gift, they’re presenting you with more than just a one-time gift. In fact, in-memoriam donations often provide organizations with an opportunity that they let slip through their fingers...

We can all agree: No one in the nonprofit sector has a tougher time of it than the small shop development director. These are the dedicated souls juggling a variety of responsibilities, from individual giving to marketing and communications, to event planning, to public relations, to stewardship and more. How do they fit applying for foundation grants into their insane schedules?...

Have you ever started a new job, only to discover that no thank yous had been sent for months? Or even—(gasp!)—years? I ran across that very situation in what I fondly refer back to as my last “job-job...

We’re all in this kind of work to make a real difference. After over 16 years working in the nonprofit development arena, though, I’ve learned that to be genuinely effective—to really make a difference—organizations need to be just as committed to funding their missions as they are to their mission...

When your focus is on a donor’s potential capacity rather than their passion, you’re making assumptions. When your focus is on their job title or the neighborhood they live in rather than their commitment, you’re making assumptions. When your focus is on the color of their skin or their age or gender, you’re making assumptions...

Just to say thank you. For years, we’ve heard that it takes 21 days to create a habit for the long haul. But in reality, it turns out that’s a bit of a myth. I say, commit to these daily calls, come hell or high water, for three months straight. Jot it down on your calendar and begin tomorrow—no ifs, ands or buts about it. And then, reach out. I want to hear from you. What habits are you embracing to ramp up your fundraising this year?...

There is definitely the tendency in our sector to write off “in-memoriam” donors as one-time donors, yet I think we must understand the emotional connection and make an effort to grow that relationship—with tact and in the gentlest, most-loving way possible...

Your organization’s major donors are, after all, right in your backyard. Yep, they’re already in your donor database, and you just have to know how to work them. Here’s the 411: If you’re not honoring your first-time or small-dollar donors and if your systems are broken, you’re going to have a hard time getting from here…to there...

Growing your successful individual giving program, including major gifts, is a process, often involving years of cultivation. It’s not about looking outside of your organization, but rather finding the diamonds within your own database. So, how will your organization move from here to there?...

An email recently landed in my inbox, and it was all about the ask. As I’m sure you can imagine, it wasn’t the first email I’ve ever received about it, and it surely won’t be the last. The ask is such a nuanced thing, and it lives in a gray area, which is often the case when there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for doing something the right way...

Persuasive copywriting is just one skill in the fundraiser’s toolbox, but I’d argue that it’s critically important. After all, everything from your newsletters, to your fundraising appeals, to your grant proposals, to your online campaign, to your website, stems from the written word. It’s a skill-set that you should be honing on a regular basis. How? Here are a handful of my most-relied upon resources...