Grizzard Agency

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Here’s to your continued success and growth in 2015 and beyond. And here’s to finding the right partners to help you along the way with the 2015 Fundraising Resource Guide.

People on the move in the nonprofit fundraising world, September 2014.

With fewer lists coming onto the rental market, list universes shrinking so significantly and retention rates dropping, maintaining the status quo and hoping things improve is a death spiral. There are three things you must do now to be successful in the long run. There is nothing breakthrough here, and every charity claims it is doing these well, but my research indicates otherwise. 

Stepping into the world of mobile fundraising may seem like parachuting into the middle of a wild jungle with nothing but a canteen and backpack. You look around; it’s unfamiliar. There are no roads, and you have no map. You could literally venture anywhere and not know if you’re going the right way or walking into a dark cave of tarantulas, a la Indiana Jones.

Nobody likes a dark cave of tarantulas, so let’s build some parameters around your mobile strategy.

Fundraising publications and blogs are full of good advice for improving donor retention, yet one of the most obvious steps to improved retention — a prompt thank-you to a gift — just seems too overwhelming for many nonprofits. According to Grizzard’s 2013 DonorGraphics™ media usage study, donors estimate that they receive acknowledgments of their donations only 74 percent of the time. That presents a differentiation opportunity that can help facilitate donor loyalty.

Becoming service-oriented requires the adoption of a “donor-centric” mentality. In the simplest terms, this means that the individual donor’s best interest takes precedence over organizational objectives. How do you determine to what extent your planned-giving approach is donor-centric? I suggest you treat the following questions as a kind of litmus test.

Here is how three faith-based organizations — The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah, Ga.; Salesian Missions in New Rochelle, N.Y.; and Los Angeles-based Union Rescue Mission — are keeping the faith in fundraising.

Grizzard Communications Group announced that the fundraising agency has hired Todd Bemis as digital creative director and strategist. Bemis brings almost 20 years of extensive agency experience leading design efforts for Fortune 100s and major international nonprofits to Grizzard. Bemis will focus on developing new digital products and offerings for Grizzard clients that help boost fundraising revenue, increase engagement and strengthen brands.

The Minnesota chapter of the Animal Humane Society has its 2012 year-end fundraising campaign meticulously planned down to every channel.