Adjust Your Mindset for the Big Ask donors fundraisers fundraising major donors major gifts transformational gifts Jan 20, 2022

Get ready for inspiring your donors for the big ask...

Making a big ask isn't about being fearless, it's about being sure-footed. 
Fearlessness is all about you - it's a solo act. Fundraisers, though, are in business of relationships. You and the donor are climbing together to the mountain...

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Better Storytelling with Storyweaving and Storylistening donors fundraisers fundraising relationships storytelling success Oct 12, 2021

Storytelling is an important tool for fundraisers: 2 more tools to supercharge your efforts: storyweaving and storylistening. 

Research tells us: 

Using stories signals the brain to pay attention and to store the meaning deeply in the cerebellum. 

Emotions...

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I'm heartbroken that Simone Joyaux has died fundraising relationships simone joyaux May 09, 2021

Simone Joyaux died the morning of May 2, 2021. I want to tell you about this amazing woman a fundraising giant.

Simone was a supernova. She had the energy of 100 regular fundraisers.

Simone was blindingly bright as in: so smart, very academic in her thinking (hey, she was raised...

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The Magic of Discovery Calls donors fundraisers fundraising success Apr 29, 2021

Discovery calls: some fundraisers love them, some fundraisers loathe them.

The truth is, they are a vital part of our work as relationship fundraisers.

For many fundraisers, the hardest part of the Discovery Call is that it feels as if you're making a cold call. And yet, in our work we need...

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Crying a little over thank you letters donors fundraising gratitude relationships Mar 17, 2021

You need the "person" in personalization to connect with donors...

Back in 2013, I started a new position covering a maternity leave. Almost immediately, I implemented hand-signing all thank you letters. At the time, none had a live signature, not even the memorial donation letters, gasp!

...
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Appreciation is NOT a Process donors fundraisers gratitude Jan 26, 2021

Appreciation is about creating connection...

Not long ago, in before times, I was having lunch with two fundraisers.

We face similar challenges and opportunities - each of us wanted to increase our capacity around major gifts and planned to better engage our donors.

"So, what about thank you...

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Are You a Treat? donors fundraisers gratitude success teamwork Oct 27, 2020

People who know me well, know Halloween is my favourite holiday!

Here are my four insights to how fundraisers can be more like a treat than trick to donors.

Treat donors like partners for impact

As a fundraiser, you should to treat all donors as special. Whether...

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