Fundraiser Education

Whenever I start working with a new client I’ll mystery shop them. Sometimes it’s just an email asking a quick question. About 50 percent of charities don’t reply. That’s a little scary. And it becomes really scary if you happen to agree with what I’m saying: Every call is a fundraising call and every email…

The other day, I was thinking about what the perfect resource-development job is like. In this complex society and profession, there are many moving parts in play. In my mind, however, I thought, "Wouldn’t our jobs be easier if we created our own organizational vision of the perfect nonprofit organization?" Here's what my dream organization would look like...

While knowing facts and statistics is interesting, actually doing something with that knowledge can be revolutionary—or at least a start to improving our fundraising efforts. As you consider the final eight weeks of 2016, here are some facts that can give you a boost as you make your final efforts to meet your goals for the year...

To successfully retain donors, nonprofits need to invest time into cultivating and maintaining long-lasting relationships from the first donation onward. With a concrete donor-stewardship plan in place, donors will feel more valued and invested in your nonprofit. While you may understand the importance of donor stewardship, it’s not always clear how to take the best…

We go to bizarre lengths in our endless pursuit of “free." Dear fundraiser, I implore you: Rather than thinking first of economies, let your first thought always be to embrace grace and gratitude at every step of the donor cultivation process. Make gratitude a daily habit and integrate it into your life, fundraising and beyond...

Let me get this out of the way first: I’m a Jeff Brooks fan. I grew up in direct marketing with his "Fundraising is Beautiful" podcast and Future Fundraising Now blog. I’ll always remember my first blog post where I said to my wife that Jeff Brooks linked to me in the same tone of…

The subject of major gift prospecting always causes a bit of controversy anytime Jeff and I talk about it. I suppose that the reason so many pro-prospecting people get mad at us for taking a no-prospect stand is that they truly believe the illusion that “there is just someone out there that we don’t yet…

Here’s the thing about tricks, secrets, and the latest and greatest: They aren’t total frauds. There’s some truth in all the hype. Some of these actually work, at least providing immediate, if fleeting, results. They don’t move the needle, however. But there is one trick—one real secret—that works today, tomorrow and for as far as you can see...

I haven’t posted for a while, as the nonprofit sector loves to jam all its conferences right in the middle of the busiest time of year, apparently. (Why do we do that?) But after trips, conferences and discussions with people all over North America, I’m more convinced of one thing: I’m a bad marketer/fundraiser. OK,…

I talk a lot about ways to raise money and not have to ask for the gift. But, please, don’t get me wrong—there are times it’s important to make the ask. Asking for the gift is part or all of your work if you have the position of executive director; development director; major gifts, planned…