Comments for Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog

Comment on To Engage With Younger Donors … Connect With Them Where They Live by uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:55:23 +0000

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This post was mentioned on Twitter by agentsofgood: nice Pam! RT @PamelaGrow: How to effectively engage with younger donors? http://ow.ly/1hXYN #nonprofit #fundraising #charity Pls RT!…

Comment on Where’s Your Social Media Manners? by Where's Your Social Media Manners? | Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog Contact

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:09:21 +0000

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Comment on To Engage With Younger Donors … Connect With Them Where They Live by To Engage With Younger Donors … Connect With Them Where They … | Calling Cards Live

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:37:22 +0000

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Comment on Does Your Nonprofit Major in Minor? by Chataun R. Denis

Chataun R. Denis — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:19:41 +0000

As a nonprofit consultant and trainer, I work with numerous nonprofits that can’t seem to pry away from the outdated, ‘give your services away for free’ business model. I then had the bright idea to start promoting social entrepreneurship. Many people think that starting a nonprofit is a precursor to giving back. This is a very popular misconception. Social-entrepreneurship allows people to do work they love, give back, and earn a living. This mindset is the opposite of the traditional ‘profit-less’ model so many existing, failing nonprofits are using.

Comment on Does Your Organization’s Thank You Letter Suck? by Twitted by lindaueronline

Twitted by lindaueronline — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:56:09 +0000

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Comment on How to Be a Nonprofit Development Director – Charting Your First 100 Days by uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:08:54 +0000

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Comment on The One Secret to Increasing Your Individual Giving Exponentially! by Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:44:09 +0000

Great question Steve! I always actually put the language in a tiny font at the bottom of the letter (recommended by P. Burk). I am pretty sure that that is what Lisa Sargent recommended as well (it’s a bit of a “joy sucker” so we put it as an afterthought!)

Comment on The One Secret to Increasing Your Individual Giving Exponentially! by Steve Smith

Steve Smith — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:40:28 +0000

Thanks for bringing this post back. The concept of thanking donors is timeless. Good to remind your audience (us!) of its importance. A question. Do you recommend nonprofits you work with send receipt separate from thank-you? I’ve advised doing both in same envelope, particularly in direct respose acknowledgement. Tell me if my head’s on straight about this.

Comment on The One Secret to Increasing Your Individual Giving Exponentially! by Vikki Baptiste

Vikki Baptiste — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:36:41 +0000

I thank donors who give as little as $1 – and it’s always a handwritten thank you, not some form letter which is the same as everyone else gets!

From our supporters, that $1 donation may have meant choosing between donating and buying milk, and we appreciate every supporter.

I find it hard to believe that any organization would choose not to thank donors they consider “insignificant”. That’s just setting themselves up for no repeat donations from that person, as well as just bad PR.

Comment on Successful Fundraising – Not for the Thin-Skinned by Lisa Garcia-Ruiz

Lisa Garcia-Ruiz — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:16:29 +0000

Hi Pamela,

I love that you are bringing this out into the open. I think it’s a very good point you make that organizations and executives need to be more think-skinned. If there was a legitimate problem or issue that led to the low rating, then of course they definitely need to address it in the most effective way possible. But otherwise I think your advice was definitely on the mark. AS Gabe mentioned above, sales skills are key to success in “this economy” and they will be served well if they learn those skills now.

Great job Pam, thanks for the great discussion!

Lisa Garcia-Ruiz

Comment on Nonprofit Blog Carnival: First Time High by Krishanu

Krishanu — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:17:47 +0000

I felt your blog is quite inspiring..
Specially because I too am a part of a non profit organisation by the name ETASHA Society..
This organisation is a Delhi, India based NGO training underprivileged young Indians for employment in the organised sector.

Comment on It’s the Data, Stupid! Why Your Organization’s Database is Your Most Important Development Tool by uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:19:03 +0000

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This post was mentioned on Twitter by NonprofitCFOs: RT @PamelaGrow: It’s NOT “what’s the best database 4 our org?” – it’s whatcha gonna do with your database after you get it http://ow.ly/13Kbo #nonprofit…

Comment on It’s the Data, Stupid! Why Your Organization’s Database is Your Most Important Development Tool by Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:15:47 +0000

You know I designed two Access databases for a foundation that I worked for – and, today, over 15 years later, they are still using them. I always stress that it is not necessarily the organization’s choice of a database (although having a web-based database is preferable imo), but how they handle it and the kinds of policies and procedures that they establish for entry. Thanks for your feedback.

Comment on It’s the Data, Stupid! Why Your Organization’s Database is Your Most Important Development Tool by Jenn Howard

Jenn Howard — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:43:40 +0000

Fantastic post!

Excel is definitely NOT a database.

We run a custom, built-from-scratch solution. While not always hassle-free, it allows us to grow our data as we ourselves grow and change.

Comment on Successful Fundraising – Not for the Thin-Skinned by Gabe O'Neill

Gabe O'Neill — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:57:20 +0000

Thanks for this post, Pamela. Very timely for me. As I embark into fund raising and attempting to get corporate sponsors for a budding non-profit I am running into expected obstacles. People are showering me with “in this economy donors are drying up” and “good, established charities are closing their doors”. I have never been a great salesman as that is never been my choice, but now I have to be. And to be a good salesman you must have thick skin because you will be rejected. I just have to keep repeating, “failures are nothing more than stepping stones to success.”

Comment on Nonprofit Blog Carnival: First Time High by uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:36:11 +0000

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Comment on Successful Fundraising – Not for the Thin-Skinned by Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:54:51 +0000

Thank you Kimberley! It’s interesting because this post grew out of a conversation I had with a good friend. My initial thought was to do as both you and Tom suggested. I like to keep things as transparent and above-board as possible. However, I see my friend’s point of view too – particularly if you are on a strong course of action. Do you take a detour every time a complaint arises? Or even when an “opportunity” arises (because we all know that sometimes opportunities are not really opportunities)? Love the comments!

Comment on Successful Fundraising – Not for the Thin-Skinned by Phil Johncock

Phil Johncock — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:25:33 +0000

Sometimes less attention placed on an issue the better. In other words, pick your fights.

You’re not going to get that donor back, so it may be better to “let it go” … a hard pill to swallow.

I would also take the feedback to heart, namely that a donor had “planned on making a contribution, but, upon checking out the organization’s Charity Navigator paltry three star ranking, changed his mind.”

What does it take for the organization to get a four star ranking? What strategies could be put in place to get the four star ranking? How long would it take?

If it takes a long time or is unlikely that a four-star ranking will happen, then I would pursue a newsletter article like Tom suggests … and make sure to keep the agency’s strengths and accomplishments in the forefront… and point out weaknesses in Charity Navigator rating. But, only if a four-star ranking is out of the question.

I appreciate that the board president felt safe enough to cry on your shoulder and vent.

Thanks for sharing, Pamela.

~Phil
Editor
http://GrantWritingNewsletter.com

Comment on Successful Fundraising – Not for the Thin-Skinned by Kimberley MacKenzie

Kimberley MacKenzie — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:55:48 +0000

Hi Pam,

Great post! I truly understand what you are saying about keeping the complaints in perspective. When I looked into it in my new job we hardly had any complaints last year. To mean that meant we were being bold enough so we are changing that.

I’m more with Tom on this issue. What a fabulous newsletter opportunity if approached from a position of educating your donors about how these rating systems work. Charities can also talk about impact as being a more realist measure.

In the past when bad press for charities hits the mainstream media I have sent letters out to all donors saying “You may have read that….this is where we stand (with admin rates, cost of fundraising whatever)’. If a mistake was made an upfront letter apologizing and letting them know what you are going to do. Remember – donors are onto us! They know this game. As Ken Burnett says they give in spite of us not because of us.

In my experience proactive, candid, transparent communications like these most likely increase support and loyalty.

Love your blog! Keep up the great work.
Kimberley

Comment on Successful Fundraising – Not for the Thin-Skinned by Kristy Hall

Kristy Hall — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:55:48 +0000

Great post! It’s a real-life situations many organizations face.

I absolutely agree with your suggestion that the organization look at whether any of their current donors complained about the ranking – continuing to nurture those relationships should always be a top priority.

And, I think you make some great points about how we often take things incredibly personally … when they really aren’t about us.

I also really like Tom’s article suggestion – address the issue head-on and create an opportunity to “blare the trumpets.”

Along those same lines, I would suggest providing current and prospective donors with hard evidence that you’re actually achieving your mission. Personally, I’m not as concerned about a ranking as I am about how effective the organization is – and, having proof helps!