Don't Be a Fundraising Dinosaur: 5 Big Ideas to Adopt Right Now

Of course, putting your donors on camera does something else too: It cultivates them deeply.

• You are paying attention to your donors.
• You are asking them to get in touch with their personal passion for the cause.
• You are touching their hearts.
• You are pulling out a powerful marketing message that can give your fundraising program a real boost.

Ninety-five percent of donors say it feels good to give. Let them talk about it on camera.

Big Idea No. 5: Stop asking for money. Start asking for action.
This is where the political fundraisers have it over the nonprofits. The Sierra Club asks for ACTION in addition to giving. Take a look at all the political fundraising out there today. It seems that all PACS and other political causes are asking you to TAKE ACTION in addition to giving money.

I believe in giving donors something TO DO. It makes them happier. It involves them in the cause. It fans the flames of their passion. It makes their gift of time and money more meaningful to them. AND it sets them up for larger, sustained giving. What can you ask your donors to DO?

BOTTOM LINE:
Fundraising is changing. It's getting LOTS more sophisticated. Don't be a dinosaur. Throw out the status quo. Try new strategies and Big Ideas. You'll raise LOTS more money if you do! Which is YOUR favorite new BIG IDEA? Leave a comment and let me know!

Gail Perry, best-selling author of "Fired-Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion into Action," is a consultant, speaker and author and also president of Gail Perry Associates. This post originally appeared on her Fired-Up Fundraising blog.