Blog
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Beyond Charity Work: Why Competitive Pay is Key for Effective Nonprofits
This blog debunks myths and explores why competitive salaries matter in the nonprofit sector.
Maximize Fundraising Success: Monthly Metrics Worksheet Sample for Nonprofits
Unleash fundraising success with our Free Monthly Metrics Worksheet! Elevate goals, identify prospects, and achieve exceptional results. Get the download link here.
Boost Your Fundraising Game with Our Free Top Prospect Report Tool
Unlock fundraising success with our Free Top Prospect Report Tool! Identify key prospects, set action plans, and secure major donations. This dynamic spreadsheet adapts to your goals, tracking next steps efficiently. Download now and unleash your fundraising potential! Don't miss this opportunity to transform your game.
Transactional versus Transformational Giving: Ideas for Building Meaningful Nonprofit Philanthropic Engagement
We’ve all done something – given in just enough – to get someone to stop doing something – to stop “bugging us” about something and go away. Perhaps it’s the dog begging for human food – you might toss fido just a bit, to get him to go away. Or your child begs for another hour on the swings – you might give her 10 more minutes, just to stop the badgering. And you might give a “go-away gift.” A gift that is just enough to get the solicitor to go away. That is a transactional gift.
Donor Cultivation: How to Handle Angry Phone Calls
Angry donors can make for a hard day, but listening to them is worth it! Read about what you can do when faced with an angry call, and why you should welcome it as an opportunity.
Would your Nonprofit Pass a Development Audit? A 10-Point Checklist with Tips
No matter the size of your development office, the essentials remain the same. Ignore them at your peril! Use our list to consider whether or not your nonprofit has fundraising fundamentals in place, and how they might be improved.
Earn The Urn Fundraising: A Planned Giving Strategy
Sometimes, humor and candy can make all the difference in motivating your colleagues and changing the culture of your nonprofit. Read on to see how we used it to inspire conversations about planned gifts.
Build Your Natural Networks – Best Fundraising Growth Strategy
How many times have you heard, “Fundraising is really about relationships?” It’s true. This blog article describes how to turn this concept into a powerful reality for your nonprofit.
Q&A Lessons: Nonprofits Speak with the Voice of Experience
What are nonprofit leaders thinking? How have the last 6 months of the coronavirus pandemic impacted their work and perspectives? In this blog post, 3 nonprofit leaders - a Development Director, an Executive Director & a Director of Philanthropy - are brought together to look back at what they wished they’d known, and what they look forward to learning.
How to Handle “No” from a Nonprofit Donor: Fundraising Skills I Learned in my Opera Career
Who would think there are lessons from a career in opera that apply to fundraising? Both take courage, perseverance and joy. In this article by a retired-opera-singer-turned-fundraiser, you can learn about the parallels and add a valuable perspective to your fundraising.
Q&A Lessons: Fundraisers Speak on Virtual Event Planning
Virtual events for nonprofit organizations have become the new success story during the Covid pandemic. Learn more about the best practices on raising money and attracting attention to your cause virtually.
Major Gift Fundraising is Still the Same (COVID or not)!
Our social and physical movements have changed during Covid but basic human relationship needs have not. Are you still practicing the tried and true methods of fundraising?
4 Helpful Tips for Fundraising During a Recession
No one knows for sure what will happen this year. I sincerely hope we don’t experience a repeat of 2008-2009. Not only was my fundraising job extremely stressful, but my husband got laid off in October 2008 as well. So, yeah, I’m not excited about doing THAT again. That said, I thought this might be a good time to share my experience of raising funds during that awful time known as “The Great Recession.”
Getting that Visit in 3 Easy Steps – A Primer on Fundraising Cold Calls
I’ve spent the last two decades as a professional fundraiser and fundraising consultant, and during these years I’ve tried out many different methods of getting in to see a prospective donor in person (the gold standard for fundraising prospect visits). I’ve cold called, cold emailed, sent letters, used LinkedIn, you name it.