Donor cultivation is the key to success. You need to learn what your donors think, feel and know about your organization. You need to quickly understand why they are interested in supporting your organization. You must, over time, match their needs with your wants in a positive way by communicating with them on their terms. You strive for a win-win scenario...
At a conference I attended recently, one of the most well-attended sessions was positioned as a presentation on “donor journeys,” when in fact, it was an analytics session, charting the time from donor acquisition to second gift or major gift upgrade...
Ever notice how the training that’s offered to help you be a better fundraiser very often has a predictable pattern? It’s the pattern I call “all the cool kids are doing it.” The French might call it the “topic de jour.”...
An annual giving program is the foundation of a successful fundraising program and for establishing a culture of philanthropy. Even a small nonprofit should have an annual giving program, providing donors an opportunity each year to invest in your mission and endorse the difference you are making through their gift...
Anecdotal evidence says that rage donation does provide a catharsis for political frustration. We know, because we donated to the Wilner’s fundraiser when it was at about $4 million, and yes, we did feel somewhat better! A bigger issue that rage donations bring into focus is the use of Facebook as the fundraising platform of choice...
Over the years I have trained myself to focus on the need. Why? Because the right fix on the need drives everything you do in major gifts fundraising...
It happened several years ago. And I haven’t forgotten it. And when I heard about it I thought, really? Can anyone be so stupid? Now, I know stupid is a strong word and usually I don’t use it. But really, this was one of the worst twists of logic I have ever seen...
As you may know by now, when it comes to monthly giving, I’m all about making things easy and simple for both monthly donors and the organizations. So when I start working with an organization on growing their number of monthly donors, we first look at the online donation forms to see what’s already in place...
Using personalization on direct mail pieces is a great tool for building stronger donor relationships, by showing how much the organization cares about the donor and values the connection that has been cultivated over the course of the relationship...
Capital campaigns can be lonely and scary. It’s easy to wake up in the middle of the night, worrying about whether the big gifts that must anchor your campaign will come in as you have planned...
