If you know me, you know I prefer using permission-based language with donors and prospects. I listened to a great podcast by Nikki Rausch, "When not to say, 'Thanks for Your Patience'."In it, she talks about the phrase, which I have used before.

"...There's such a difference between ...

Should you stop multitasking?

I honestly think multitasking has saved my life many times. Or maybe it has just saved me time, and in that time of my life, I craved the ability to create more time out of thin air.

I was raised in a family where being as productive as possible was highly valued....

"Donor, would today be the right time to speak about your impact with [charity]? Our impact continues to [impact]."

If you still have donors or prospects on your list who you meant to ask, tried to ask, or have been trying to have a conversation with... now is the time to get engaged in...

Happy Holidays!

While prepping a small feast during the holiday season, I thought about how similar fundraising is to cooking. And if you, like me, really enjoy both, you may savor this post. I'll include the evening's recipes at the end!

Planning—A well-considered plan always provides...

How much will we get in before Dec 31?.

I worked for an arts organization where our goal was to finish the year at least $1 in the black. It was imperative to know what we might be getting in as closely as possible. There is a formulae that I've used - and you can, too - to better figure out how...

Sometimes, you only understand how good a thing is when you look back on it.

Such is the case with the boss in my very first job - Cliff Sanderlin.

My first fundraising job was at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. What a great mission, what great healing, what changed...

One of the great joys I have, being a fundraiser, is meeting donors who are true fans of our mission. 

You may have had donors like that - they're supporters and they give regularly. They may attend events or volunteer. They talk about your work to others. You may not even realize how much...

"So if you aspire to be a good conversationalist, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments.” 

As a fundraiser, I've come to realize that I'm more than a connector to charitable gifts. I'm a catalyst for change.

As fundraisers, we take the hopes and aspirations of supporters and prospects - their desire for a better world - and connect them to the life-changing missions...

I believe that the most effective fundraising is connection-based fundraising.

Sure, you can "get donations in the door" with simple transactions. But most nonprofits are in it for the long haul, to create lasting, positive change in the world. So you want lasting donor...

In Part 1, I highlighted some of the language that Fidelity Charitable uses to talk to their donor-investors about Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), which you can see on this page. 

Fidelity neatly outlines the (their) benefits of a Giving Account (DAFs): 

• Give more. Save more.
• ...

I hear fundraisers complain about gifts received through Donor Advised Funds, known as DAFs.

"I never know who is actually giving."

"I can't steward these people properly!" (nor cultivate the donor for a second gift.)

"We have major donors who have stopped giving - how do I know if they are...