Marc Pitman

So many nonprofit leaders get into this sector because they are good at filling needs. They get so good at doing that they draw other people into their orbit. Because they’ve been good at doing, they just keep “doing” and think this is what nonprofit work is about...

It can be awful doing the work, even having actual meetings with major donors, and still not have the fundraising results you expect. Here are three tweaks I find help my coaching clients get back on track to reaching their fundraising goals.

Wouldn’t it be great to have some objective way to mechanically ask new people for a gift? We could just “know” that we’re asking the right amount.

Executive directors and CEOs have an incredibly challenging job. In my ongoing research with nonprofit executives, they often tell me that boards hire the nonprofit leader to be a fundraiser, but they don’t allow the leader to staff the nonprofit in a way that frees her up to fundraise. As a result, many nonprofit executives find that constantly “putting out fires” crowds out strategic activities like donor involvement.

Time spent chasing promises to give online is better spent thanking actual donors.

In our new Question Marc column, a frustrated fundraiser asks, "Why didn't people respond to my year-end fundraising letter?"

If we do our jobs well, we will not be at our seats all the time — and that might not sit well around the office. A simple call sheet could help with your "impression management."

April 21, 2009, Fundraising Coach — Since this month marks the 1 year anniversary of the publication of “Ask Without Fear!“, I’m deciding to have a party!

Your nonprofit needs you to have the courage to fundraise. I’m surprised how often I need to remind fundraisers that their job is to raise funds. That is true for CEOs and executive directors too. Here’s hoping these two approaches will help you ask without fear and see your mission fully funded!