Are You Engaged in 'Mop & Glo Fundraising'?
February 16, 2016 at 10:41 am

I used to think Mop & Glo was the greatest product known to man. Once a week, Iโ€™d mindlessly squirt Mop & Glo on my tile flooring, run a damp mop over my tile and step back to admire the shine. Until the day came when there was no shine left to admire. So, are you using what I call "Mop & Glo fundraising"?...

Be the Change: Put Donors First
February 15, 2016 at 10:47 am

I want to let you in on a secret. Almost every day Richard and I get notes and emails from major gift officers, who, like you, are readers of our blog and lament that their bosses, executive directors or boards are making it impossible to do their jobs. Richard and I have a ton of empathy for your situations....

Love Your Donors Every Day
February 12, 2016 at 9:26 am

While Valentine's Day is very symbolic for us, I will never forget what I was told decades ago: to show affection every day of the year and not just one special, designated day. I always have carried that premise over to donors in my career. We need to love them all of the time. Unfortunately, many professionals have not developed a proper method or process to do this over time...

A Catalyst for Fundraising Retention, Part 3
February 11, 2016 at 11:19 am

When it comes to sending our receipts and thank-you messages, the most important goals should be โ€œfast and grateful.โ€ So kudos to every organization that receipted meโ€”and did it quickly. The typical donor will see the thank you and probably file it away for taxes; it may not seem to make much of an impression, but research shows that saying โ€œthank youโ€ does matter as it is one more piece to building a relationship with that donor....

Want to Guarantee Fundraising Success? Dive These 5 Fundamentals
February 10, 2016 at 11:26 am

In 2016, there are five fundamental skills nonprofits must master to guarantee success in an overcrowded marketplace. Some of these skills will seem familiar, but the way you employ them may need to be tweaked in order for you to survive and thrive in our digitally revolutionized society. Other skills may be things youโ€™ve thought about or dabbled in, but havenโ€™t really committed to with serious intent and dedicated resources....

8 Fundraising Lessons From the Primary Election Season
February 10, 2016 at 11:21 am

Wow. We have never seen an election cycle like this one. To some it is edifying, and to others it is quite scary. No matter what your political persuasion, here are eight fundraising lessons we can take away from this primary season....

Invitation Only: Nonprofit Leaders
February 9, 2016 at 9:49 am

If you work for a nonprofit and are a leader in the direct-marketing space, you need to be in N.C. in May...

Why Major Gift Officers Fail
February 8, 2016 at 11:26 am

The reasons for major gift officer (MGO) failure, other than the person not having the skills to do the job, are pretty basic. What I find interesting is that MGOs can simply decide to not let any one of these points be a reason for their failures. They can, literally, flick switches in their minds and make the decision to head in another direction if they want.

What Fundraisers Can Learn From Peyton Manning
February 5, 2016 at 10:17 am

As his NFL career began in Indianapolis, I had the honor of working with Peyton Manning on a capital campaign I directed to build the St. Vincent Childrenโ€™s Hospital, later to be renamed the Peyton Manning Childrenโ€™s Hospital at St. Vincent. I noticed early on that he always was prepared for every meeting, interview, event and activity. He was all business and knew his role...

A Catalyst for Fundraising Retention, Part 2
February 4, 2016 at 10:12 am

Itโ€™s one week later, and two things havenโ€™t changed. First, four of the 23 nonprofit organizations that I sent a year-end gift to still havenโ€™t said โ€œthank you,โ€ and secondly, I remain convinced that a strong receipting/thank you program is a key component to building lasting relationships....