At a recent board retreat I was facilitating, a board member challenged me. He said that he felt the donor cultivation strategies I was discussing seemed contrived. He didn’t believe we could develop real relationships with donors because the ulterior motive was to raise money. However, this particular board member was missing one key fact … [Read more...]
Want to Raise More Money when Fundraising? Go on a Listening Tour
Recently I was on a coaching call with a new client who doesn’t have experience raising major gifts. We discussed his plans for raising money from individual donors before year end. His idea was to call as many businesses as possible to “get meetings,” then tell them about all the amazing work his organization was doing, and then ask for a … [Read more...]
How to Be Happier and More Productive at Your Nonprofit Fundraising Job
One of the keynote speeches I regularly give as I travel the country is called Happiness, Habits, and Nonprofit Fundraising: Strategies to Survive and Thrive. I developed this speech because I encounter so many unhappy fundraisers. Sadly, many development professionals are miserable at work. And that’s a real shame, because you didn’t get … [Read more...]
3 “Non-Risk” Risks for the Fearful Fundraiser
Are you risk-averse? If trying something new gives you butterflies in your stomach and stops you in your tracks, you're likely risk-averse. Many fundraiser's are. Some people have an immediate and negative reaction to trying new things. And sometimes, their cautious natures are warranted. But often they’re not. So when Seth Godin … [Read more...]
How to Leave a Lasting Legacy: Your Donors and You!
For just a moment, give some thought to this question: How will you be remembered? Sophisticated donors think about what type of legacy they want to leave when considering their philanthropy. If they have a family foundation, they may do a lot of thinking, talking and discussing what type of mark they want to leave on the world. These … [Read more...]
Listen Your Way to a Major Gift and Your Donors Will Give with Joy
Experienced major gift officers will tell you they listen their way to major gifts. Unfortunately, many development directors think the opposite -- that they need to talk their way into a major gift. What’s important to remember is that fundraising is NOT about convincing, cajoling or guilting your donors to make a gift. When Fundraising … [Read more...]
How Raising Major Gifts is Like a Marriage Proposal… Slow and Steady
Heading into Valentine’s Day, there will be countless marriage proposals. However, most of these proposals will not be spontaneous -- they will be well planned, and carefully executed events. The “proposer” has probably made arrangements for a memorable occasion -- at a minimum, reservations at a favorite or fancy restaurant. It’s likely … [Read more...]
5 Years From Now: Looking into Your Future and Your Donors’ Futures
Recently I hosted a webinar called, How to Make Better Fundraising Asks… and Get Donors to Say “Yes”! (You can catch the replay here.) In the webinar, I talked about how it’s important for donors to feel great about their donations so that they continue to give again and again. As a fundraiser, it’s important for you to think about the 3rd, … [Read more...]
How to Best Engage Mid-Value Donors: Interview with Kimberly Blease
Interested in growing your mid-level donor income? Watch this interview with Kimberly Blease, VP of Client Relationships at Blakely, to learn how to best communicate with mid-level donors so they feel more involved and engaged. The full interview transcript (with minor edits for clarity) appears below. Mid-Value Donors … [Read more...]
Take the Fundraising Fitness Test: Interview with Jim Greenfield
In this interview, fundraising legend Jim Greenfield talks about the importance of the Fundraising Fitness Test and explains how you can take this free test and have your donor data analyzed. The full interview transcript (with minor edits for clarity) appears below. What is the Fundraising Effectiveness Project? AE: Hi. … [Read more...]
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