March 26, 2020
How small shop fundraisers can steward major donorsIf you hear the term “major donor” and feel that your organization is too small to steward major donors, think again. The word "major" is relative. Whatever your scale is, your organization probably already has the support of some major donors. By proactively stewarding them,…
Read ArticleFebruary 12, 2020
4 intriguing books for a fundraiser’s reading listAre you a fundraiser looking for some good books to add to your reading list? Here are four books I enjoyed that I think will especially resonate with anyone involved in the nonprofit sector. We fed an island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto…
Read ArticleJanuary 29, 2020
4 questions to consider after your fundraising appealWhen your fundraising appeal winds down, make time to evaluate it so that you can repeat what worked and change what didn’t. Here are four key questions to consider in your evaluation. Question 1: Did your appeal meet its financial goal? If you exceeded it,…
Read ArticleNovember 20, 2019
Are you ready for the day after GivingTuesday?By making a plan for the day after GivingTuesday, you'll be sure to harness the power of this annual giving day far beyond the actual day. Donor retention is the backbone of a successful fundraising program. GivingTuesday is a great opportunity to encourage gifts from first-time…
Read ArticleNovember 5, 2019
How to make sure your appeal letter is finishedYou've drafted your appeal letter, you've revised it a couple of times, and you're feeling pretty good about it—but now you can't decide if it's polished enough to send. Sound familiar? To take away the guesswork, we've put together six questions you can use to…
Read ArticleOctober 17, 2019
How to get involved with #GivingTuesdayKidsGivingTuesday is coming up! If your organization is looking for creative ways to engage your supporters on this day of giving, why not incorporate #GivingTuesdayKids into your efforts? What is #GivingTuesdayKids? Started by Khloe Thompson, age 12, who makes toiletry bags for homeless women in her community,…
Read ArticleSeptember 24, 2019
What to do with unfulfilled pledgesIf your organization collects pledges as part of its fundraising efforts, you’ve likely come across a pledge record that has an outstanding balance and the payment is long past due. How do you handle these unfulfilled pledges? Tips to manage unfulfilled pledges You probably have…
Read ArticleSeptember 11, 2019
4 tips for effective pledge remindersIf your organization accepts pledges, it’s vital that you send pledge reminders. Follow these suggestions to ensure that your pledge reminders serve your donors and your organization well. Include pledge details, and make them stand out in your reminders. You may think it’s redundant or…
Read ArticleAugust 29, 2019
Are you a frazzled fundraiser? Stop multitasking.Fundraisers know that a nonprofit’s financial resources have to be used wisely. They aren’t limitless. I would argue that your own energy is equally as finite and valuable a resource, and it deserves to be stewarded as carefully as your organization’s budget. But, be careful—multitasking…
Read ArticleAugust 15, 2019
4 ways to streamline your fundraising appealLaunching a successful appeal requires a lot of careful preparation. You can streamline things for yourself, and for your donors, by incorporating these four suggestions into your appeal plan. Know what you'll most need to report on: As part of your appeal preparations, decide…
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