Author: Virginia Davidson

  I worked at a library during graduate school, and one of my tasks was to shelve the periodicals and keep them in order. I couldn’t stop myself from paging through the newspapers and magazines as I (slowly) completed this task. Plenty of articles tried to make sense of a generation that was clad in hoodie […]

Read More… from 4 ways to encourage millennials to support your cause

  Many people refer to pledges and recurring gifts interchangeably, but they are actually very different. While both are effective tools to raise revenue for a nonprofit, it’s important to understand the differences so that you can avoid confusion and develop processes to manage each appropriately. We want pledges and recurring gifts to help you raise money for […]

Read More… from The difference between pledges and recurring gifts

Annual reports are a useful tool for donor stewardship and marketing, but they can be a ton of work to put together. In addition, the end product may strike your donors as lengthy and dull—the exact opposite of the reaction you want them to have! With that in mind, here are four tips to help you create […]

Read More… from 4 tips for creating an inspiring annual report

Have you ever been disappointed by the results of your fundraising appeal or event? A fundraising effort can fall short of its goal simply because the goal wasn’t realistic. Oftentimes, it’s only when you’re looking backward that you recognize the goal was nearly impossible to achieve. If this scenario sounds familiar, don’t despair! Next time […]

Read More… from How to set realistic fundraising goals with a gift pyramid

Many nonprofit organizations rely on events to raise funds as well as awareness about their mission. Successful events are the ones that are part of a wider fundraising plan, and in order to get the most from your event it’s vital that you have a strategy for post-event communications. We’ve put together a simple post-event communication […]

Read More… from How to make the most out of your fundraising event

Participating in a 24-hour online giving event like Giving Tuesday or Give Local America is a great opportunity for your organization to raise funds. To fully harness its power, though, it’s important to look beyond the day itself! If your Giving Day is a community-wide event, the added publicity can really help drive new donors to […]

Read More… from Tips for retaining your donors after a Giving Day

  Every organization has lapsed donors. These are donors who previously contributed to your organization, but for whatever reason they haven’t renewed their support. Their prior giving is evidence that they believe in your mission, though, and it’s a good indicator that they may give again. What can you do to try and win back […]

Read More… from How to re-engage your lapsed donors

  It’s a feeling every fundraiser knows and dreads. You need to write an appeal letter. It needs to be compelling and inspiring, and also must bring in the money for your organization’s important work. And…you can’t get started. Writer’s block has stopped you in your tracks. Sound familiar? Writer’s block strikes every fundraiser at some […]

Read More… from How fundraisers can combat writer’s block

Grant applications are an important component of most development operations. But they can also be a source of stress. It’s no small task to navigate the various guidelines, the different application formats, and the deadlines of each funder. Hopefully, you have a donor management system like Little Green Light that helps you track critical information such as application and reporting […]

Read More… from 6 simple ways to strengthen your grant applications