Fundraiser Education

One of the questions I am asked most frequently is, "How do you fundraise?" It seems like a simple question but, in practice, asking individuals and corporations for their support is more art than science. That's because fundraising is much more than asking for money. A key goal in development work is cultivating long-term relationships…

There are only four more months to make this your best year possible. Four months to raise money so your organization can do more to fulfill its mission. Four more months to build long-lasting relationships with donors. Four more months to share your story and gain new donors who will help make 2016 great. What you do in these next four months is vital. The letters you mail, your Facebook posts, your events, your newsletters, your face-to-face visits—all of these and more will have an impact on your final numbers for calendar year 2015...

I love asking for a gift. I love the conversation about big dreams and changing lives. I enjoy helping people realize what a difference they can make. But another great fundraising rule is: Do not ask for a major gift on a first visit. That’s the first date. You are just learning about your donor(s)...

Think fast: Who is the best storyteller you know? Odds are, it's someone who doesn't simply tell what happened. Rather, the best storytellers show what happened by punctuating their stories with rich description, vivid examples and compelling details. In today's intensely competitive market, nonprofits face greater challenges than ever before when it comes to distinguishing…

United Way of East Central Alabama won't set a fundraising goal this year, opting instead to better inform the public on how donations are spent. The Anniston, Alabama-based nonprofit, which provides money to 28 nonprofits in Calhoun, Cleburne and Randolph counties, skipped its tradition of announcing a fundraising goal at its annual kickoff event Tuesday.…

Should charitable fundraising be allowed at work? The popular "Fill the Boot" fundraiser has sparked this debate in Texarkana, Texas. The city manager has placed restrictions on firefighters participating in the event that raises funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He says it creates a safety hazard on roadways, and it should be done off-duty…

The movie Moneyball shows us a situation in which Oakland A’s Major League general manager Billy Beane, due to enormous pressure to perform, casts aside his natural bias (using visual attributes about players to make decisions) and instead turned to a non-natural way to make decisions: using statistics. Who but a crazy person would rely almost totally on statistics to make decisions?...

I learned the hard way and made a lot of mistakes during my first management roles. I didn’t have any formal training on management; overseeing a team came with my first fundraising position. I might have been good at managing a project and making the tough decisions, but understanding how to build and motivate a…

Many smaller nonprofits are growing because they act like responsible grown-ups. And responsible grown-ups looking to invest their hard-earned funds in a nonprofit organization feel confident in doing so with them. Yes, there are other reasons for their success, but when it comes to fundraising, here’s what I think sets them apart...

Imagine a creditor is going to take your car away from you unless you come up with $1,000 by tomorrow. You don’t have the means to pay what’s owed. How do you get the money? Do you ask someone for help? What do you say to them? You would experience a considerable sense of urgency…