Let's cut to the chase -- if you want to raise major gifts successfully, you need the right combination of five components: knowledge strategy persistence optimism courage That's it. I've just let you in on the "secret formula" -- and it probably seems pretty straightforward, right? 5 Key Components to Raising Major Gifts … [Read more...]
Year-End Giving is a Sham: A Better Way to Raise Money
Okay, maybe calling year-end giving a sham is a bit extreme. But there *IS* a better way... Most nonprofit leaders rely heavily on year-end fundraising because the holiday appeal letter and/or email brings in 30%, 40%, or 50% or more of the annual fundraising revenue. That’s a whole lot of eggs in one basket, metaphorically speaking. It … [Read more...]
Why You Should Never Raise Major Gifts Alone
Fundraising is a team sport. You may have heard that expression before. And when it comes to major gift fundraising, that’s absolutely true. The more people on your team, the better you are likely to do. Conversely, if you are expected to raise money on your own, it will be harder to do by yourself than if you have the support and … [Read more...]
Asking Made Easy: The 1-2-3 Approach to Soliciting a Gift
Asking for a gift for your nonprofit is easier than you might think. The real challenging part is pushing past your fear of asking. Once you’ve decided to ask, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Getting Over Your Fear of Asking for a Gift Getting past the fear of asking is probably the hardest part of all. So let's take a little time to … [Read more...]
The Zen Approach to Modern Fundraising: 11 Paths to Serenity
Fundraising can be stressful. But it doesn’t have to be... Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty. When we use the word today in western culture, we're generally describing then notion of peace and tranquility with the mind and spirit. Yet, peace and tranquility rarely define the life of a … [Read more...]
2022 Fundraising Pep Talk: You CAN Raise Major Gifts! (In Just 6 Steps)
Two months into the new year, two years into the Pandemic, twenty-two years into the century, and let me guess -- you’re still not raising major gifts the way you’d hoped. Something’s got to give. Something’s got to change. No more excuses. There’s no time to waste. THIS will be the year you raise major gifts. First, Face Facts... … [Read more...]
3 Surefire Ways to Alienate Your Donors on Valentine’s Day
This week, you’re going to be bombarded with ways to show #DonorLove. Much of the advice you get will be standard and sound. Some will be cheesy and tacky. Hopefully some ideas will be original and inspirational. It’s up to you to determine which is which. I suggest doing things that will make you stand out (in a good way) with your donors. … [Read more...]
Top 10 Reasons You WON’T Raise Major Gifts in 2022
After teaching fundraising for more than a decade, I have a pretty good idea of who will raise major gifts and who won’t. There are familiar patterns I've learned to recognize -- markers of success, and markers of failure. Some of these patterns are obvious; others, not so much. I've done a number of posts over the years on what it … [Read more...]
4 Steps to Crush Your Fundraising BHAG in 2022
Do you have a BHAG? That is, a Big Hairy Audacious Goal? You may be familiar with this popular term coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book, Built to Last. Now, it’s a widely used expression and concept to help with long-term planning and visioning. Set BHAGs to Establish Long-Term Goals Companies often set BHAGs for … [Read more...]
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining: 10 Inspirational Fundraising Clichés
It all started when I recently read the famous quote: Resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The quote is attributed to several people. I’m not sure why it struck a chord with me, but I immediately thought -- that applies to fundraisers. It reminded me of a fundraiser named Nancy. I was speaking to … [Read more...]
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