Fundraiser Education

I just had the incredible honor of attending the International Fundraising Congress (IFC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Not only that, I had the further honor of attending as one of IFC’s scholars as part of its scholarship program. Ever since I heard about IFC, I have been dreaming about going. A conference that brings people from…

Our challenge as fundraisers is how to write to the donor in the donor’s language. Simple enough, until you are faced with someone who doesn’t accept the challenge. So we have to battle against the editor or copy approver who forgets that fundraising takes head and heart. When you find yourself in this battle, here are a few strategies I use as needed...

In everything you do, honor the donors and make it about them. There are three easy ways to do that: listening, being genuine and asking. Doing those will show donors you care about their interests and needs. And you’ll deepen relationships for your worthy cause...

What are the fundraising barriers that are holding you back—even inside your own organization? I bet there are plenty! Are you and your team working, perhaps, within a whole sea of hindrances? Many things happen inside nonprofits that don’t serve fundraising. What’s more, some of this stuff actively works against your—and your organization’s—overall success. No…

There’s a good amount of information here on Know Your Own Bone that has accumulated through the course of this lil’ corner of the internet’s existence! I recently wrote a compilation post on some of the more important points regarding engaging Millennials within cultural organizations. I also recently found myself in a meeting taking on…

Richard and I believe that no matter what you do, there are people out there who will connect with your mission on an emotional level—even if you don’t think so. By accepting that, and by using emotion in how you talk about what you do, not only will you attract those new donors to your cause, but those you do have will become connected in a much deeper way and will give more.

If you reverse the fundraising process and see what your results can bring at the end of it, you will have a clearer perspective of why you are asking for funds. If you look into a child's eyes and see his or her smile and connect on an emotional level, your dedication and willingness to raise funds deepens...

What is the magic in fundraising? Those times when the strongest connections are made or the right donor at the right time to the right project. Either way, it is awfully hard to get there. We can all recognize those moments: the backstage tour, the vibrant conversation with our CEO at a donor lunch that…

The present political campaign season offers a number of lessons for the astute nonprofit fundraising professional. Although the heated and sometimes virulent rhetoric political campaigns employ may often seem out of bounds and incongruous with nonprofit charitable work, the strategies on which these campaigns rely for procuring financial support from donors are plainly effective...

Simply choosing a goal based on need only sets your organization up for failure—the double failure of not reaching your monetary objective combined with the failure created by demoralizing those who support you. Successful fundraising campaigns are achieved, in part, by generating a sense of accomplishment among those who give. When you ask them to give to a goal that isn’t reached, the question, “What good is it?” comes into the mind of the investor. It isn’t your passion that’s generating the energy, it’s the donors’...