A Quick Friday Tip: catch her off guard

Great fundraising is not superficial. It’s quite the opposite.  I hope you have the opportunity this summer to be more contemplative about your work and your donors.  If you’re intentional (and a bit lucky) you may have the honor of being in a conversation with a donor where they get further clarity about what matters…

Continue Reading →

5 ways you’re sabotaging your fundraising

Of course you’re not sabotaging your fundraising on purpose.  Self-sabotaging behaviors, however, are often hidden from our everyday thoughts. Fundraising is right up there with the things many nonprofit leaders would prefer not to think about.  Summer can be a great time to think. I’m referring to the fun kind. It’s a time when leaders like…

Continue Reading →

What fundraising superstar’s “get” – that you may not

It’s ingrained… It’s at the heart of how they operate. And…it’s how they attract talented board and staff, increase their impact, and break ground on that new building that’s been a dream for so many years. These executive directors “get it.” I know you do too, but if you’re like the majority of nonprofit leaders,…

Continue Reading →

3 Career Boosting Habits for Great Fundraisers

I use the term “career boosting” broadly. The truth is, the better you become at fundraising, the more impact you’ll have in the world. That holds true whether you’re a volunteer or staff. The fact is, you’ll always be marketable and in demand if you can effectively develop relationships and raise major gifts. It may take…

Continue Reading →

What if your fundraising problems aren’t fundraising problems?

Are the struggles that you face with fundraising a result of something specific – something that you can essentially fix? Like ramping up an already established major gifts program or recruiting new volunteers to a functioning development committee.  Or finding the funds to send the executive director to a reputable nonprofit leadership program that trains…

Continue Reading →

3 Steps To Take Before Making an Ask

I’m always thinking about new ways nonprofits can systemize the process of connecting board members with donors. In other words, how do you make the simple “act of connecting” a routine part of a board members job? Why? Connection is the heart and soul of fundraising – it’s where all the juice is. Not the…

Continue Reading →

Why Executive Directors Must Change…and How To Do It

Why do executive directors need to change? Really, it’s nonprofits that need to change under the leadership of executive directors.  According to Seth Godin and others, “because the work they are doing is far too important to play it safe.  Risk, fail, try, risk, fail, succeed.” If you want to grow as a leader, change…

Continue Reading →

Why most donors stop giving…and a quick fix

You’ll be shocked and delighted, or I hope you will, at how easy even a few small changes can make to boost your 2015 fundraising results. The Bad News 53% of donors stop giving because a lack of communications. Ouch! Adding insult to injury – first-time donors only make second gifts 23% of the time? …

Continue Reading →

The Vulnerability of the Nonprofit Board Chair

It feels vulnerable to step into any leadership position, but especially one that paradoxically comes with big demands and high stakes, yet, little to no orientation, training, and support. It can be scary to ask questions about things we’re “supposed to know” and scarier still to admit when we feel stuck or unsure. These insights…

Continue Reading →

Here’s how to get a quick major gift

Do you have current donors that could give more, but haven’t? Here’s how to turn your most loyal donors into heros, quickly. This is a snapshot view of how to get a major gift sooner than you had planned. “Smaller” major gifts from $1,000-$5,000 can fit into this category if you know the donor well…

Continue Reading →

Page 5 of 7