Fundraiser Education

Fundraising success isn’t a question of have's and have-not’s. Sure, larger organizations may raise more money, but that’s because they have more staff, resources, etc. But smaller organizations can be just as successful with the resources they have. Fundraising success is a question of belief. Believe in fundraising, embrace it and invest in it long-term and you are bound to find success. Ignore it, or pay it lip service, and you’ll likely find a revolving door at your development director position.

FundRaising Success columnist Jeff Brooks, creative director at TrueSense Marketing, warns fundraisers to be vigilant against these sins, because they can drag your fundraising program down to a terrifying hell of non-response.

In a fundraising climate where oversaturation, more competition for funds and new technologies make attracting and retaining donors that much more difficult, innovation is vital for nonprofit organizations looking to survive and thrive not only today, but in the future. In his book "Idea Stormers: How to Lead and Inspire Creative Breakthroughs," author Bryan Mattimore…

Here are some words of wisdom culled from stories that appeared in the January/February 2004 issue of FundRaising Success.

Please join fundraising consultant and CFRE Gail Perry today at 2 p.m. EST in this special conversation with FundRaising Success Editor-in-Chief Margaret Battistelli Gardner! You can register using this form, and we'll see you at the event. You'll be able to find out what Margaret sees as the latest trends in fundraising. This will truly be an insider's perspective that you rarely get to hear.

Ted Hart speaks with veteran fundraising executive James Greenfield about fundraising fundamentals in this archived episode of his Nonprofit Coach radio show.

As we anticipate trends impacting nonprofits in 2013, “fundraising isn’t expected to significantly increase” rises to the top. UnderDeveloped, a recent report from CompassPoint, examines fundraising trends from a different direction, from within nonprofit organizations. How are development staffs set up for success? Who is doing the heavy lifting? What are the expectations?

Knowing that fundraising is expect to carry on as is this year and that across the nonprofit sector, experience and turnover are challenges, nonprofits need to prepare. Your nonprofit likely should consider the following …

I recently attended an inspiring talk by Daniel Pink, author of "To Sell Is Human," and found myself furiously taking notes. Next thing you know I was impulsively buying the book (autographed, of course)! Do I have buyer’s remorse? Absolutely not. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Everything he has to say is so directly applicable to fundraising and the nonprofit sector that it’s a "must read" for those of us in the philanthropy business.

Fundraising has changed significantly since I started in this field. It’s a challenge to keep up and keep learning, but that’s what makes fundraising such an exciting career. Vow today to commit to developing a new habit or two in terms of learning, and your organization will benefit — and you will, as well.

How do you choose your fundraising strategies? First, of course, you start with the body of knowledge. You choose your fundraising strategies based on all those books by the industry experts. Next, you look at the results of all of your organization’s fundraising. You analyze response rates and examine your return on investment (ROI). You compare current results to the last several years. You explore trends and their implications. And now … try using a special set of nine criteria that I’ve developed for my clients.