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...
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...
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...
Yesterday I came across a document from my early fundraising days in Canada. The Director of the nonprofit asked me for phrases she could use when asking for large gifts from donors.
I'd forgotten that I had created this document and "Key Phrases and Next Steps when Asking...
In a previous post, I offered some practical tips on ensuring that your nonprofit events maximize donor, volunteer and prospect relationships and help move them forward (and how to deal with challenges here).
But much of this can start even earlier - at the invitation stage.
What typically...
Recently I've been talking about Working the Room - how to get the most out of donor relationships during event. Then I wrote a post about getting the right people to the event. The posts outlined practical steps about how fundraisers, board and staff can focus on the donors and not...
I had a colleague who told me, as we prepared to attend a pre-opening donor event at an art museum, that these events were very difficult for her.
"They aren't hard for you, you like talking with people," she said to me. "For me, it is different."
Yes and no. There is no question that I get...
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...
