Claire Axelrad

One of my pet peeves as a donor is making a contribution (via a peer-to-peer request or tribute gift in honor or memory) in support of a friend; then receiving nothing but a form receipt...

A recent opinion piece by Frank Bruni in The New York Times, "How to Get the Most Out of College," really resonated with me. And not just because I have a stepdaughter—just packed off to her brand new dorm room, filled with a mixture of trepidation and exhilaration...

Probably not as much as you might think. But… a little bit. This article covers how major donor prospects are fundamentally the same as other prospects. After all, first and foremost, they’re people. And people want to feel good...

Claire Axelrad writes on Clairification about how the most donor-centric thing you can do is ask people for a philanthropic gift. Of course, not all the time. And not without being diligent about matching what you ask for to who you ask and what they care about. And not without tempering your “ask” approaches with “gift” approaches; you do have to do a fair amount of wooing...

Claire Axelrad writes on Clairification about the four criteria that influence donor decision-making, and they're not based on your needs. If you’re relying on prospective donors to deliberate on the merits of your appeal based on the need you convey, you’re on the wrong track...

Just when you thought you already had too much to worry about with figuring out how to maximize social media and make your communications all mobile responsive, now there’s one more thing...

There are three things I’ve found donors love when it comes to making donations: 1. to leverage their money; 2. to be part of a winning strategy; and 3. to be in control of how their money is used…

Many nonprofits are stuck. They’re tethered to their early decisions—often made by others who came before them. But times change. Organizations evolve. Or they don’t...

If you want to be sustainable over the long haul, you must incorporate this dual-pronged goal into your values and planning. The values part is critical, because if you don’t have goodwill internally (in how you treat your colleagues) you’re unlikely to have goodwill externally (in how others perceive you)...

Storytelling has been "hot" for some time now and for good reason. Our human brains are wired for storytelling. We’re automatically open and receptive. So, you’d be foolish not to use this to your advantage when it comes to your nonprofit marketing and fundraising—especially if your goal is to raise money. Storytelling is not difficult once you get the knack of it...

Today, we’re going to look at a great tool for building those important relationships with top prospects over time. And we all know that is what will result in the big gift. You know how important it is to put a plan in place to build relationships, right? It’s super de-duper important if you want to secure major gifts. I’m talking about “moves management...

Major donor prospects don’t hide under rocks or fall from the sky, but if you look in the right places you will find them. Once you do, you’ll have the fuel you need to fill your major gifts fundraising pipeline. It’s your first step towards leading them along the continuum from interest… to greater involvement… to passionate investment...

There’s no substitute for the basics, as boring and tedious as they may be. This is true with anything in life, and major gifts development is no exception. The basics are boring, but they’re fundamental to your success...

Ever notice how sometimes when we put on our work hats we cease to be human? How we somehow morph into little robotic “professionals” and become enamored of jargon? “Lybnts.” “Sybnts.” “Recaptures.” Not that those things aren’t important. You need goals and objectives...

Think about it. When you decide to make a PB&J, you give thought to the type of ingredients you’ll add to the mix: Crunchy or smooth? Strawberry jam or grape jelly? What are you, or those for whom you’re creating this delight, in the mood for? The same holds true for marketing and fundraising collaborations...