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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What did Leo Tolstoy know about fundraising? Find out what his classic novel has to say regarding a universal truth about needing to get your people and systems in alignment.

Galas can be a fun and exciting evening, but not usually a good time to do serious major gift fundraising. How can you turn your next event (or even virtual event) into a powerful action step with your top donors and prospects.

What can you do to avoid capital campaign pitfalls that will derail or weaken your work? This article describes the most common mistakes and offers simple solutions.