Donor Relationship Management

We Are Both Teachers and Students
July 24, 2015 at 2:27 pm

Did you know that a Tsetse fly inhabits much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and Kalahari deserts? It is a large biting fly, and the first Tsetse fly is known to be at least 34 million years old. There are 23 species of this fly. Why in the world should this information matter if you are not a Ph.D. in the field of insects? It matters because my first assignment in my first nonprofit position at the University of Louisville was to help a faculty member obtain funds to eradicate the Tsetse fly...

Bag Carrier, Authenticator or Rain-Maker?
July 23, 2015 at 2:41 pm

In recent weeks, a number of people have approached me with questions, all variations on a theme: effective solicitation. The minister who shies from asking his parishioners to support an important project because he wants to preserve his role as a counselor, the board members who don’t always want to be the ones out asking, the executive director who just plain feels awkward approaching others for money.

Never Underestimate the Power of Giving
July 22, 2015 at 2:14 pm

We have to focus on numbers to achieve goals. But never lose sight of the high calling of our profession, the power of giving, the respect and honor we owe to donors at all levels, and the life changing invitation (for donors and those who benefit from our worthy missions) we extend...

Lifelong Donor Relationships Are Not About Money
July 21, 2015 at 5:00 am

Everyone wants to develop a major gifts program, or to strengthen their existing major gifts program. Why? Because they want to raise more money. If you approach major gifts development solely from this perspective, you’ll ultimately fail...

Why Your Donors Want to Remain Anonymous
July 10, 2015 at 12:47 pm

It never fails. When there is a large-scale natural disaster, such as the Nepal earthquake, or an event that inspires charitable giving, my media alerts for Network for Good go through the roof. Many donors come to Network for Good’s giving portal to search for nonprofits and quickly make donations online, and reporters often list…

Marketing Analytics: Putting More Than a Face on Your Donors
July 6, 2015 at 1:25 pm

The velocity at which data is being created, coupled with the ability to capture, store and utilize that information (more data crosses the Internet every second than was stored on the entire internet 20 years ago), gives fundraisers more access to pertinent information at the individual level than ever before. In the past, it would have been nearly impossible for fundraisers to imagine amassing such information at the donor level, much less at the prospect level...

Take Lessons Before You Drive
July 3, 2015 at 6:00 am

Have I made mistakes in my past and present? You bet, but I have always cared deeply about each institution and the people I served during my tenure on staff. I constantly try to learn from others, both young and old, to perfect my craft. Nonprofit service is like golf, in the sense that you must constantly practice to become a better player. The dynamics of the nonprofit world are constantly changing and you must adapt and change to be successful...

From a Fundraising Appeal to a Donor-Centered Appeal
July 1, 2015 at 12:39 pm

Are you struggling to nail the perfect appeal letter? Whether we are sending appeals via email or direct mail, we will need to nail the ask. It needs to be solid, heartfelt—and donor-centered. Everybody’s talking about donor-centered fundraising, but in my opinion, very few nonprofits are getting it right.

Donor Relations—a One Way Street?
June 30, 2015 at 12:19 pm

A sure sign that not much of anything worthwhile is being done in the area of donor relationships is the growing presence of lots of buzzwords surrounding this subject. In reality, my guess is that more folks have married Kardashians than there are organizations that have become seriously engaged in building true relationships with donors.…