There are a lot of negative connotations associated with fundraising. And that strips it of the natural joy you should be getting as you're working so hard to make the world a better place. Negative Fundraising Language vs. Positive Fundraising Language One of the strategies I often use when facilitating a board retreat is to ask board … [Read more...]
Raise More by Asking for Two Gifts at Once
Has your organization received any planned gifts this year? If so, it just might be thanks to the hard work of one of your predecessors. The Smartest Fundraisers Ask for Two Gifts at Once Back when I started fundraising, big organizations had different staff members who were responsible for raising major gifts and others who solicited … [Read more...]
How to Ask Donors for a Gift: 4 Powerfully Authentic Scripts
One of the most terrifying moments for most fundraisers (staff members and volunteers) is asking for a gift. And yet, every fundraiser must request specific gifts if they are going to raise significant amounts of funding. Sometimes simply finding the right language for the right situation makes everything flow together. Before you ask … [Read more...]
Development Directors Who Stay Longer Raise More Money
A good development director is worth their weight in gold. Fundraising, especially major gift fundraising, is based on relationships. It takes time to build trust and confidence. The longer a development director stays at an organization, the more likely it is they really get to know the donors and volunteers and that the donors know them! … [Read more...]
Fundraising Fundamentals: Major Gift Basics – Do You Do These 4 Things?
Recently I presented a webinar on how to raise major gifts during a pandemic. With nearly 500 people on the call, there was a wide range of experience and expertise among participants. And yet, after teaching major gift fundraising for more than a decade, people of all experience levels are most grateful when I review the fundamentals. This … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Completely Sabotage a Major Gift
Most fundraisers, executive directors, CEOs, and board members are scared to death of sabotaging a major gift. So rather than taking the risk of asking for a gift, they often avoid asking at all costs. Of course, that’s the biggest risk of all -- not asking! The reality is that the fear of sabotaging a major gift is much greater than … [Read more...]
Virtual Solicitation Done Right: How to Ask for Donations via Zoom
For the first few months of the Covid-19 crisis, I felt like my primary responsibility was getting on the phone with hesitant CEO’s and Board Members and trying to convince them that asking during Covid wasn’t a bad idea. In other words, I was shouting for anyone who would listen that this was actually a good, and appropriate, time to be … [Read more...]
Top 5 Fundraising No-Brainers for Nonprofit Professionals in 2021
According to the Urban Dictionary, here's the definition for a "no-brainer": no-brainer -- noun -- something so obvious to be correct / appropriate, that it requires no contemplation to decide on. General No-Brainers for 2021 I put out a call on social media for 2021 no-brainers. Here are just a few of the responses I got: Wearing a … [Read more...]
Early Xmas for Over 300 Nonprofits Thanks to MacKenzie Scott
I’d like to crown MacKenzie Scott the Giving Pledge Goddess. She took the pledge, and she meant it. If you had several billion dollars, what would you do? If you’re like most billionaires, you wouldn’t give a fraction of your wealth at the speed at which Ms. Scott has done in the recent weeks and months. Ms. Scott has now set a record … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Follow Up with Your Donors When They are Unresponsive
Have you ever asked for a gift, and then crickets? The would-be donor doesn’t get back to you for days, weeks, or even months? You’ve left messages and sent emails. You don’t want to bother them, but you could really use that gift. You’re not sure what to do. This scenario is more common than you might think. The question is, what … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- …
- 19
- Next Page »
