Fundraiser Education

Uneeka Jay, founding principal of Rewrite 365, delivered the opening keynote where she emphasized the importance of being plugged into the “right” power source. To those who attended the meeting, she asked: Are you doing the work that you were created to do on this earth?...

Eleven of Britain’s best-known charities have been fined for breaching data protection rules. Some were secretly subjecting millions of their donors to “wealth-screening” operations to target them for additional fundraising. The Royal British Legion, Oxfam, Cancer Research UK and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are among those found by the Information Commissioner’s Office…

There are a number of studies and reports floating around the online space every single day, and these studies and reports are on a variety of topics—science, health care, marketing, technology, communications, statistics—you name it...

A year ago, I stepped into a new role as director of development for a local and thriving nonprofit with a full-time staff of fewer than ten people. Previously, I served as director of communications for a national nonprofit, where development was a small aspect of the position, but not a focus. Why the jump to development?...

Your organization’s current fundraising programs may be getting results. They’re working—or so it seems. But what if your results could be getting better… and better and better? The highest performing nonprofits continually test their appeals programs to optimize programs...

Regardless of where you are in the fiscal year, you should be constantly looking for new volunteers and potential board members. These individuals, if chosen correctly, can bring much needed new contacts, finances and open doors for future possibilities to your organization...

I get a lot of fundraising mail, which is good because to this fundraiser, that’s like food to a starving person. I receive great nourishment from other people’s mail (OPM)—creative stimulation, chuckles, thoughtful moments, emotional engagement, smiles and an occasional tear...

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’t change human nature, but with some rhetorical Jiu Jitsu, we can harness it for good. We can take the same bias that causes us to take each other’s lunches and use it to raise money for equality, better health, cures and so much more...

Nonprofit leaders are looking for donors in all giving abilities. But they are not looking for just any donor. They are looking for that subset of investors who share their values and vision and—by their life situation—are ready and willing to invest...