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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 –...
Five Days to Foundation Grants has been revised!
Five Days to Foundation Grants has been revised! If you missed this succinct (77 pages) guide to building relationships with foundation funders the first time around, you won’t want to miss the new release. One reviewer wrote “I’ve taken two day accredited courses that didn’t cover...
Fundraising Events: a losing proposition for your nonprofit organization?
There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. - Peter Drucker Say the word “fundraising” to anyone unfamiliar with the field and what’s the first thing to come to mind? You guessed it – events. Everyone seems to buy into that old Andy Hardy...
Most influential fundraisers: who influences you?
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta Civil Society’s Fundraising magazine’s Most Influential poll recently opened and I was honored and humbled to receive...
Applications not accepted: Get on their radar!
Foundation Center President Brad Smith notes that “Nearly half of the grantmaker profiles in Foundation Directory Online state, “Applications not accepted”, i.e., these funders do not take unsolicited proposals.” How can you get on their radar? Join us for a live chat at 1:00...
The Pollyanna Principles | An Anniversary Review
You’ve got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess with Mister In-Between You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum Have faith or pandemonium’s Liable to walk upon the scene Sounds simplistic,...
No Time to Cultivate Young Donors? Ask Your Board & Major Donors to Help!
Don’t spend too much time worrying if you have the right strategy for cultivating Gen X versus Millenials. And definitely don’t spend time brainstorming about the iPhone app for your nonprofit that will do it for you. Think big picture, and focus on the basics. The next generation will become loyal...
Are you playing it safe with your nonprofit communications?
This week I had the highest unsubscribe rate in the year or so history of publishing my weekly enews. Was it due to the fact that I was more than a little wiped out from overwork and hadn’t produced a piece up to my own standards? Or was it (more than likely) due to my noting that the NPR setup spearheaded...
Seven Secrets to Great Nonprofit Leadership
1. The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. RALPH NADER In other words, let your leaders lead. I worked as part of a five-person development team for a large organization for twelve looooong months. During that time period three development directors came and went,...
Nonprofits: The power in an ROI promise
The best nonprofit copywriting, from appeals to web to email, hinge upon emotion. But what happens when you support that emotional pull with logic? The nonprofit that merges emotion with logic creates an irresistible appeal to give. Here are two examples: Charity:Water: $20 can give one person...
Good storytelling passes the test of time
“Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it. “ Hannah Arendt Are you like me? Do you regularly scan your email with an eye to what’s important, check all “unread” messages and end up sending 137 emails to the trash? Is your inbox stuffed with junk like...
