Association of Fundraising Professionals

The DMA Nonprofit Federation is honoring Geoff Peters, CEO of Moore Direct Marketing Group, for his dedicated service with the 2015 Max Hart Nonprofit Achievement Award.

Once again for 2015, the AFP National Philanthropy Day Honors program is going viral! Instead of the written nomination form that you once filled out, we are asking you to show us. There is nothing more powerful than watching someone talk about his or her appreciation and awe of another person or organization. So, go ahead, blow us away with the stories of your favorite philanthropist and supporter from 2014.

Building a culture of philanthropy is the most important and dynamic program element fundraising professionals should do on a daily basis. As your organizational culture matures, your job becomes easier. Success of various degrees takes time, but failure in this area is not an option. Your organizational long-term philanthropic viability may depend on it!

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2015 (in a couple days). I was in the dental chair the other day, and between drill sounds, I thought of 15 ideas to share with you as you enter January.

Trust me, word-of-mouth advertising is priceless. The recent $30 million Indianapolis Zoological Society capital campaign that exceeded goal by $4 million was "textbook" in its success and use of word-of-mouth, and in reality, it is a success for the entire profession!

With Republicans poised to take control of the Senate following Tuesday’s elections, it's likely that lawmakers will dig into the tax code when a new Congress is sworn in. While that means added scrutiny on the charitable deduction and tax treatment of nonprofits, charity leaders are confident their cherished provisions will remain intact.

Before the current Congress wraps up its business, however, charity officials expect lawmakers to consider certain items in the tax code, including moving the deadline for claiming the charitable deduction from the end of the year until April 15.

In Find Accounting Software's 2014 Fundraising Technology Trends Study, 142 fundraisers were polled about their use of technology. Each of the fundraisers shared how successful they’ve been growing contributions. They also described their software management platforms, communication channels and payment acceptance methods.

Key findings include: Revenue growth is not assured. Fundraiser believe in technology but often lack it. Leveraging the Web matters. Diversification is key. There is an optimal technology profile a successful fundraiser.

Today's fundraising news: New Blackbaud products, a call for Bridge session proposals, and a free webianr from TechSoup.

The request for proposal can sometimes be the official “first date” for most agency/nonprofit organization relationships. It sets the tone for the partnership and provides a road map for future success.

The goal of any fundraising event is to raise money for a worthy cause. However, according to the recently released 2014 Special Events Report from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, raising awareness and education is also an important goal of fundraising events.