Creative

A lot of people in our sector wax lyrical about being donor-focused/donor-centered/(insert some other supporter centric jargon). Don’t get me wrong. For many, or even a lot of you, your supporters are literally the lifeblood of your organization. They keep your doors open, the lights on, mouths fed. I get that. But you don’t exist for your supporters. They (and you) are the conduit to making amazing things happen. For your beneficiaries.

You just have to accept the fact that some donors pay undue attention to overhead costs. Don't even try to change their minds. You won't be able to. On the other hand, you also have to understand that it's unrealistic to be expected to pursue your mission without ever spending any money. It takes an investment to make an impact. So focus on the impact. Donors will be far less likely to worry about overhead costs if your nonprofit is generating amazing results and if you're communicating those results robustly to your donors.

Keeping it short won't make your job a cinch. I tried to write this all with words of one syllable, and only came close. 

It is up to nonprofits to encourage donors to look beyond the "overhead ratio" measurement to see the true impact of an organization. Here are four ways nonprofits can talk about their impact, beyond “the overhead ratio”: 1. Educate your donors. 2. Build trust. 3. Be transparent. 4. Have conversations.

In order to continue making a positive impact within communities, both donors and nonprofits need to look beyond “the overhead ratio” when considering the effect of the initiatives championed by nonprofits.

Here are some ways to reach the demanding new donors of our time — don't worry, it's nothing you don't already know.

You’ve probably heard this before. But my mailbox says too many writers are not taking it seriously. You want to get read? Keep your writing simple. I’m talking fourth to sixth grade level simple. Writing at a higher grade level doesn’t make your writing more impressive. It makes your writing less likely to be read.

No matter how bad (or good) your writing is today, it’s possible to improve it overnight. Here are seven quick “tricks” that can improve the very next piece you write. 1. Know your reader. 2. Know your objective. 3. Use short words. 4. Use short sentences. 5. Use short paragraphs. 6. Use active language. 7. Write recklessly, and rewrite ruthlessly.

Staying on your donor's good side can be a dicey proposition. People and relationships are full of paradoxes and contradictions. And that's doubly true of donor relationships, which are complicated by the fact that you spend a lot more time talking at your supporter than with her.

"For the most part, educating donors is a futile and money-wasting exercise. Not only does it squander resources and opportunities — but it nearly always fails to educate." Those were the words from Jeff Brooks in his September 2008 Easier Said Than Done column, "The Futility of Educating Donors."

Our industry has developed a long list of best practices, based on experience, testing and measured results. But best practices are guidelines. When they're etched in stone they can become tombstones.