A no-nonsense approach to fundraising and managing your nonprofit
One of my more popular speaking topics is about overcoming the “fear of asking” or learning how to ask for gifts in more effective, efficient ways. If you want to improve your success rate and/or comfort level with asking individuals for contributions to your organization, you need to practice. The subject of money is taboo… Continue »
Last week I attended the Gift Planning Council of New Jersey’s annual conference. I wish you could have been there with me. It reinforced my belief that even small shops can raise a ton of money. Here are some terrific tips from the conference for you to implement today! Focus on Gifts that Don’t Impact… Continue »
Even intelligent, hardworking, well-intentioned fundraisers make mistakes from time to time. We all do. Here are four big ones to watch out for: Mistake #1: Treating All Donors the Same Do you wish that donors would treat your organization like the most important charity? If so, you should be treating them like your most important… Continue »
Wouldn’t it be great if your board members were enthusiastic, passionate, and committed to fundraising for your organization? While the organizations I work with see significant movement of board members toward this ideal, many organizations don’t take the time or resources to train board members properly. If this is the reality at your organization, there… Continue »
You’ve prepared. You’ve practiced. You’ve overcome your fear of asking for a donation. So you make the ask and they say “no.” But how do you know when “no” really means “no”? I tell my kids “no” all the time. Yet, it doesn’t stop them from asking again, and again, and again. They do this… Continue »
Are you scared to ask? If so, you’re not alone. As a nonprofit consultant, I spend a large part of my time teaching volunteers and nonprofit professionals how to ask, as well as how to overcome their fear of fundraising. Scared to Ask: Getting Started with Face-to-Face Fundraising is the topic for my session at… Continue »
As a consultant, I try to stress the importance of having a planned giving program to all of my clients, regardless of the size or capacity of the nonprofit I’m working with. However, other priorities often get moved to the top of the list and planned giving gets moved to the back burner. But it… Continue »
To get your year off to a strong start, I’ve prepared a 60 Day Fundraising Plan to ensure your fundraising efforts are successful. Having a fundraising plan in place is critical to your success. Missed the first two posts in this series? Go back and check them out: Creating a 60 Day Fundraising Plan: Days… Continue »
Missed days 1 through 15? Check it out here: Creating a 60 Day Fundraising Plan: Days 1-15 Creating a Fundraising Plan: Days 1-15 (Recap) By now you should have identified your best donors, including your largest and your most loyal donors. Using those lists, your next step was to create a combined list of your… Continue »
A friend and colleague, who happens to be the new executive director of a nonprofit that’s in financial trouble, called me and asked me to help him develop an “emergency” 60 day fundraising plan. The board hired him, in part, because the organization is in trouble and he’s going to try to turn things around.… Continue »
