How to steward your donors? ASK them!
Most gifts come from donors who've already given, not new donors. This article is about how we treat these valuable people, helping them give more, now and in the future.
Read MorePart 3 - Begin a Beautiful Friendship … with a Foundation!
In Part 2, I gave you some options for approaching a foundation when you have no history with them and don’t know anyone there. This article is about building the relationship between your organization and the foundation once you have made contact and told your story. Make it a beautiful friendship!
Read MorePart 2 - The Mysterious World of Raising Funds from Foundations
If your group has too few foundation grants coming in for the investment you are making in staff, it may be a result of not enough research, too few inquiries, or an approach that lacks the human touch. Foundation staff and board members are people, too, and establishing a person-to-person relationship - while it might be difficult to get started - pays dividends in the long run. This article is about how to get started.
Read MoreThe Mysterious World of Raising Funds from Foundations Part 1
Remember this: Foundations are in the business of investing in nonprofits that perform work leading to goals and outcomes desired by their leadership. If your group can help enable them to come closer to those goals and outcomes, they need you. You are doing something they cannot do themselves.
Read MoreAchieving your dreams in a global pandemic
Capital campaigns represent the dreams of leaders in a community to do something important and lasting on behalf of the community. And now...COVID-19. How do these leaders and their teams react to something that might completely derail their project? What if they are in the middle of the campaign? What if they now lack the funds to execute the campaign? What if they are almost ready to launch the campaign? This post has six points of advice for those planning or carrying out capital campaigns right now.
Read MoreWhat's the secret to great fundraising?
There's not just one "secret" to great fundraising. And the "secrets" are not actually secret. But there are key elements common to most great fundraising efforts, and I'm going to share with you some of the ones I've observed (and been part of) over my years in the fundraising profession.
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Has “Generosity” lost its power?
Used too often and without thought, “generous” and “generosity” lose their power. Do we cheapen these words by calling every donor “generous”?
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