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November’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival | How are you giving Thanks?
I’m hosting November’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and what better topic, as Thanksgiving approaches, than giving thanks? According to the author of Donor-Centered Fundraising, Penelope Burk, “90% of donors who start contributing to a particular cause stop giving by the fifth renewal request.” And...
Surveying to engage
In the thank you economy you can’t thank your donors – or survey them – too frequently. Take a cue from The Other 98%, a nonprofit dedicated to “making our democracy, economy and media work for everyday Americans, not the special interests or the political fringe.” With...
Ignore at peril: your donors live online
If you’re in the midst of finalizing your online appeal you’ll be thrilled to learn that 90% of fundraising revenue still comes from offline sources. Yes, direct mail still rules. But, as this multichannel fundraising infographic from @franswaa of Blackbaud shows, your organization’s online presence...
Emily’s List says ‘thank you’
How can you creatively steward your supporters online? Emily’s List, the political action committee devoted to electing pro-choice female candidates, recently used a novel online method to thank their supporters. Donors received this email, which read: Dear firstname, What an amazing EMILY’s...
Live it to write it
Last week I had the opportunity to meet two sisters, trustees of a regional family foundation. I had applied for a grant from the foundation on behalf of a local client and a site visit was scheduled. It was an excellent visit, relaxed, friendly, plenty of great questions, and an unplanned –...
8 Reasons development directors leave
“It seems that development positions continue to be an 18 month cycle? Is it organizations not giving them enough time to gain traction or development professionals not as strong as their resumes?” I’ve been following this particular AFP “On Fundraising” LinkedIn group topic for the past...
The dreaded red pen
Several years ago I was blissfully sailing through my first job in nonprofit development after leaving the cushy offices of a private family foundation. It was ideal in that I had autonomy as long as I got results…and I GOT RESULTS! In less than two short years I had increased foundation grant...
From interest to commitment | 7 key drivers
You know you need to thank your donors promptly. You know that it costs more (as much as 10 times) to bring in new donors than to retain your current donors. But beyond thanking ‘em how do you create that special relationship with a donor? How do you go from interest and mild liking to full-fledged...
Are you looking for a commitment on a first date?
My first fiance asked me to marry him on our first date. That’s just weird! It’s amazing that I even went out with him again. What’s this got to do with fundraising? A first donation is like a first date. An indication of interest and mutual attraction. It’s in no way, shape or form...
12 simple steps to mastering nonprofit email marketing
Why email marketing? Heather Mansfield writes in “Five Things Your Nonprofit Needs to Know About Web 2.0 Donors” “I believe, despite much talk lately of e-mail “dying”, that in fact the opposite is true. Your nonprofit needs to focus more on your e-mail newsletter than ever before because e-mail...
T.R.A.P. Your Supporters
There’s something about being in Development, Fundraising or Marketing in a small non-profit that is invigorating and enervating at the same time. Sometimes you feel trapped – asking for money, asking for support, asking for sponsorships, asking for attention (for the cause, not yourself, of course!)…...
Four ways to ramp up your annual appeal
Crisis alert. Picture this. You’ve been on your new Development Director job for all of two days when the Executive Director informs you that the organization’s annual appeal should have gone out two weeks ago and urges you to “just doctor up last year’s appeal.” Last year’s appeal sucks. What...
Are your grantwriting ducks in a row?
It’s Monday morning when, in the course of your foundation prospect research, you discover a regional foundation that: accepts grant proposals, and whose mission aligns ideally with yours The problem? Their deadline for accepting proposals is Wednesday. No problem, you’re “grant ready” with...
How to build relationships with foundation grant funders
One of the most commonly asked questions I get is “How do I build relationships with foundation grant funders?” It’s a good question because it shows that the asker understands that relationship-building is just as important when it comes to seeking grants as it is in building a sound individual...
One leaflet, 2 volunteers – 285,000 people reached!
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When life gives you lemons make lemonade
One of the many benefits of the #smNPchat on Twitter is the opportunity to meet fellow fundraising professionals throughout the world. During a recent chat on annual appeal writing tips I was delighted to meet Amy Stephan, a St. Louis fundraiser with an inspiring annual appeal story of her own. I’m...
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s FREE!
Can you really still get something for nothing? Thanks to my colleague, Sandy Rees, five of the best professional fundraisers have come together to offer up some fabulous resources just for you! Join me, Sandy, Sherry Truhlar, Lori Jacobwith and Marc Pittman over at the Nonprofit Goodies Giveaway and...
When it comes to Facebook success, “trying” doesn’t cut it
Have you made a commitment to your organization’s fundraising? Or are you relying on the “spray and pray” approach that’s all too common in the nonprofit world? You know what I’m talking about. “Spray and pray” involves taking a bunch of different ‘random’ actions –...
