What happens when Mission Impact + Nonprofit Leadership + the Fundraising Team are not aligned

Recently, while working with a client, she shared exciting news over Zoom. They had received a generous $25,000 gift for their museum. I was overjoyed for them! Initially, the plan was to meet...

People sometimes wonder why I am obsessed with using phone calls as a key tool in major gift fundraising. The answer is simple: it works. And it boosts giving and donor retention. 

My mantra: "phone calls are a powerful tool for major gift fundraising."

I've seen firsthand how a simple phone...

How can you craft a more effective donor tour underpinned with a solid major gift strategy?

I've had several clients ask me how they can improve the donor tours.

I'll use a recent coaching call as an example, with a food bank in the United States.

This food bank had a unique...

I clearly remember walking into the development office, dreading opening up the CRM to start my fundraising week. 

Sometimes It was because I'd worked all day Saturday, and worried part of Sunday about the work that was waiting for me on Monday. Other times because there was a...

I've handled huge portfolios where I felt as though I was playing catch-up all the time on certain donors. They rarely responded when I sent something like an update until they were ready to talk about their gift.

Other times, I worked with donors who I couldn't give enough information, and in...

"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...

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 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...

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...