The Art of Engaging Donors on Social Media
April 11, 2017 at 8:48 am

When people engage with brands on social media, it’s usually because they are looking to build a relationship or some kind of connection. Don’t miss this opportunity. An engaged social-media audience is priceless for your organization because these connections provide the potential for increased organic growth and recurring donations...

5 Keys to Discovering Social Media Fundraising Opportunities
March 28, 2017 at 8:42 am

When was the last time you purchased something you didn’t really need because it jumped in front of you? Perhaps because you saw it on a sidewalk stand while walking down the street. Or at the check-out line. Or it popped up as an ad or sidebar on your computer...

Magnificent Millennials: Changing the World
March 15, 2017 at 3:46 pm

Millennials are going to change the nonprofit world in incredible ways. Their enthusiasm and capabilities are significantly different than the generations that came before them, and they are motivated to make the world a better place...

3 Steps to Successful Social Media Fundraising
March 13, 2017 at 3:06 pm

Social media can be a double-edged sword for nonprofits. It’s an appropriate venue to share stories about your cause and foster community among your supporters. When it comes to fundraising, however, social media can be a confusing tool...

The Importance of Online Payment Options
February 28, 2017 at 10:23 am

Just remember, as a nonprofit, your offline donors may be falling into that “senior” category, but your online donors are definitely more of a younger generation mix. Many of us have been saying this for a while—PayPal provides the greatest flexibility and even perceived security for those worried about providing a credit card online. It works with checking accounts and credit cards...

Marketing Automation: It’s Not Going Away
February 8, 2017 at 9:39 am

Last week, this piece on marketing automation ran in the Huffington Post, pushing nonprofits to invest in marketing automation. I am here to beat the drum again, as it may be one of our most important conversations...

I Have a Facebook Problem (Or, How Not to Drop F-Bombs on Social Media)
February 1, 2017 at 9:19 am

On Facebook, it is ridiculously fun to quip, banter, engage, taunt, delve, disembowel and titillate. It is so much fun that a few times I have wandered into “Not-Niceness.” I had to find a way to stop being not nice. And I did. I Facebook-friended every church friend I could find, including my pastor. I friended them all so that they would see what I wrote. I thought that would constrain me. And I was right. It did make me nicer. But why? And more importantly, how could I make use of this behavior modification technique in fundraising?...

7 Strategies Every Nonprofit Should Master in 2017
January 18, 2017 at 9:24 am

Last year, I gave you five priorities for success in 2016. I called them “Dive the Five.” This year, I’ve expanded my thinking a bit. I give you “Seven is Heaven.” I promise if you focus on these fundamental areas, you will hear the angels begin to sing and your mission will take wing. Some of these areas will seem familiar, but the way you employ them may need to be tweaked in order for you to survive and thrive...

Gamification: Easy to Screw Up
January 11, 2017 at 3:09 pm

The problem with gamification is that often it turns into a pay for play system, rewarding fundraisers for behaviors, instead of reinforcing in fundraisers the idea that they love fundraising for their nonprofit. How can we avoid this?...