Getting To Know Your Donors: Questions For Supporters & Prospects
Being successful in fundraising requires knowing what your donors care about and why. And not because you think it’s going to serve you or your organization. But because you truly … More Getting To Know Your Donors: Questions For Supporters & Prospects »
Show Your Donors Extra Love on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday for donor love. And the nonprofit sector is certainly lacking in that department! Need proof? Just look at the average donor retention rates we … More Show Your Donors Extra Love on Valentine’s Day »
8 Tips for Creating a Culture of Fundraising at Your Nonprofit
More often than not, there’s a gap at organizations between the people on the program side and the people on the fundraising side. For some nonprofits, it’s a slight division. … More 8 Tips for Creating a Culture of Fundraising at Your Nonprofit »
Do your donors actually want to hear from you? Here’s how to find out…
A reader wrote in with a great question that comes up a lot… “How can I get donors to meet with me so I can better cultivate them? Some are … More Do your donors actually want to hear from you? Here’s how to find out… »
This Year, Make Your Annual Report Worth Reading
Supporters expect that you’ll use their donation to get results, create the kind of world they want to live in, and make an impact they couldn’t achieve on their own … More This Year, Make Your Annual Report Worth Reading »
The Perfect Donor Relations Tool for January
After the onslaught of solicitations your donors receive from all nonprofits throughout December, now is the time to show them some love. My recommendation: send a letter in January detailing … More The Perfect Donor Relations Tool for January »
Archived posts
I’m back and I’m blogging
After many years doing an email newsletter, I’m making the switch to a blog… My hope is to provide you with useful content, in bite-size pieces, more frequently. Don’t worry, … More I’m back and I’m blogging »
Donor “Thank You” Calls: Everything you need to know
Year-end fundraising is right around the corner. So take the time now to call your donors and thank them for their past support — before you start asking for those … More Donor “Thank You” Calls: Everything you need to know »
“Thank You” Calls Now Will Bring Year-End Fundraising Success
Calling supporters to thank them for donating… this is one of those things that we know we should do, but often don’t. Despite study after study proving it’s well worth … More “Thank You” Calls Now Will Bring Year-End Fundraising Success »
On Death & Fundraising
On August 25th of 2014, Kate, my wife and partner of 10+ years and dear friend for far longer, died unexpectedly at age 41. Kate was a geriatric social worker … More On Death & Fundraising »
One last pitch for “year-end” gifts
Hello my dear readers, and welcome to 2018… Despite all evidence to the contrary, I have not forgotten you. As you may (or may not) have heard, I’ve transitioned my … More One last pitch for “year-end” gifts »
This sector needs to care more about tax policy
I’ve been fuming since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed. Well, I’ve been fuming since November 8, 2016 (or maybe since birth, if I’m being honest) but that’s … More This sector needs to care more about tax policy »
Everything I Know About Fundraising I Learned From My Dog, Part 1
Hello fabulous fundraisers, Five years ago, I wrote what has become my most popular and most remembered article: Everything I Know About Fundraising I Learned From My Dog. To bring … More Everything I Know About Fundraising I Learned From My Dog, Part 1 »
A Model for Donor Follow-up: What happened after I gave to RAICES Texas…
In the wake of the horrors being committed at the southern border of the United States, I donated to some organizations working to defend migrant rights and reunite families torn … More A Model for Donor Follow-up: What happened after I gave to RAICES Texas… »
Everything I Know About Fundraising I Learned From My Dog, Part 2
Greetings, my fundraising friends! Those of us who love dogs know they are a constant source of life lessons; in fact, most dog trainers will admit their classes focus more … More Everything I Know About Fundraising I Learned From My Dog, Part 2 »
How Donors Choose: One choice that’ll increase revenue
Want a chance at increasing revenue by 42%? Here’s something to try… But first, the backstory: Many nonprofits already know the value of giving concrete examples for what donations of different … More How Donors Choose: One choice that’ll increase revenue »
How to Identify Your Best Donors: Donor Commitment Series (part 1 of 3)
If you’re reading this, it’s hard to imagine you don’t know the abysmal donor retention rates plaguing the nonprofit sector. The Fundraising Effectiveness Project measured retention at 45.5% in 2017, … More How to Identify Your Best Donors: Donor Commitment Series (part 1 of 3) »
Evaluate Your Donor Relations: Donor Commitment Series (part 2 of 3)
Fundraisers, we’re back at it with the second installment of the Donor Commitment Series… Last week, you learned three questions for identifying the most committed donors to your organization. Today, … More Evaluate Your Donor Relations: Donor Commitment Series (part 2 of 3) »
How to Increase Donor Loyalty: Donor Commitment Series (part 3 of 3)
It’s not news that the nonprofit sector has a donor retention problem…you’ve likely heard about this “leaky bucket” phenomenon. You know, the one where we’re losing donors at such a high … More How to Increase Donor Loyalty: Donor Commitment Series (part 3 of 3) »
Fundraising in an Election Year: Much ado about (almost) nothing
At some point during every election year, I usually hear nervous fundraisers worrying about the impact the election will have on their revenue. I’m here to tell you—you have little … More Fundraising in an Election Year: Much ado about (almost) nothing »
How to Create Donor Newsletters…That Don’t Suck
Here’s a little reality check about what your newsletter is not for… It’s not for talking about how great your organization is. It’s not for writing about the new staff you … More How to Create Donor Newsletters…That Don’t Suck »
Don’t Make These Mistakes with Your Year-End Appeal: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 1 of 4)
I get a LOT of solicitation letters in the mail. That’s not a complaint. It actually makes me better at my job. In fact, my prime motivation for donating to … More Don’t Make These Mistakes with Your Year-End Appeal: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 1 of 4) »
Assessing Your Fundraising Appeal: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 2 of 4)
Last week, I walked you through two appeals letters I’d received—one good, and one…not so good. Today, for your second installment of the September Direct Mail Bootcamp, I’ve got a … More Assessing Your Fundraising Appeal: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 2 of 4) »
Seven Questions to Ask Before You Start Your Year-End Appeal: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 3 of 4)
You know you need to write your year-end appeal letter but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Here are some questions to get you thinking… What’s the problem … More Seven Questions to Ask Before You Start Your Year-End Appeal: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 3 of 4) »
What to Do After Your Appeal Hits the Mail: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 4 of 4)
Are you sending a fundraising appeal but not doing any follow-up? Then you’re missing an opportunity to personally connect with your donors…and leaving a lot of money on the table. … More What to Do After Your Appeal Hits the Mail: Direct Mail Bootcamp (part 4 of 4) »
Everything I Know About Fundraising I Learned From My Dog, Part 3
It’s a new month and Penny’s back with some delicious morsels of fundraising advice… (Find tips 1-8 and 9-16 in the archives.) 17. Personalized communications get a better response. If … More Everything I Know About Fundraising I Learned From My Dog, Part 3 »
A New Approach to Giving Tuesday: Be different and stand out from the crowd
As much as I love the idea of an entire day dedicated to donating to nonprofits, I’ve always had mixed feelings about Giving Tuesday… It puts a tremendous amount of … More A New Approach to Giving Tuesday: Be different and stand out from the crowd »
Donor Retention in a Free-Fall: How 2018 Looks So Far
I don’t like to post things that could cause panic but this is too important to not talk about… The Fundraising Effectiveness Project recently released their second quarter report for … More Donor Retention in a Free-Fall: How 2018 Looks So Far »
Online Donation Pages: What You’ve Got to Have
When it comes to online fundraising, the most important thing for your organization to have is a solid giving page on your website. This is also becoming important for direct … More Online Donation Pages: What You’ve Got to Have »
Getting Real About Online Giving: Direct mail’s demise has been greatly exaggerated
Given the amount of talk you hear about online giving, you’d think a significant amount of donations were being made this way. Not so much… Even though online giving is … More Getting Real About Online Giving: Direct mail’s demise has been greatly exaggerated »
Don’t Forget the Fine Print:
Important tax messages for donorsWhile they shouldn’t be the heart of your fundraising appeal, there are two important messages you want to send to your supporters between now and December 31st. One relates to … More Don’t Forget the Fine Print:
Important tax messages for donors »
How to Succeed in the Last 49 Days of the Year
As a fundraiser, what you do with your time is never more important than it is during these final weeks of the year. This is when you capitalize on all … More How to Succeed in the Last 49 Days of the Year »
Ten Essential Time Management Tips for Fundraisers
Fundraisers notoriously have job descriptions that no one person could reasonably handle. This is especially true if you’re a small shop, where you may be responsible for doing it all … More Ten Essential Time Management Tips for Fundraisers »
Thanking Your Donors: What We’ve Got Here Is a Failure to Communicate
Donor Gratitude Series (part 1 of 4)The number one reason supporters stop giving to organizations is because they don’t think their donations make a difference. There are so very many reasons donors might have for not … More Thanking Your Donors: What We’ve Got Here Is a Failure to Communicate
Donor Gratitude Series (part 1 of 4) »
Anatomy of a “Thank You” Call: Donor Gratitude Series (part 2 of 4)
Okay, so you read the introductory post in my Donor Gratitude Series, right? And hopefully you’re more convinced than ever that you must make “thank you” calls an integral part of … More Anatomy of a “Thank You” Call: Donor Gratitude Series (part 2 of 4) »
Anatomy of a “Thank You” Letter: Donor Gratitude Series (part 3 of 4)
Last week, we talked about the ideal “thank you” call… a brief, pleasant surprise that starts the essential work of building relationships with your donors. Like that call, your sincere, … More Anatomy of a “Thank You” Letter: Donor Gratitude Series (part 3 of 4) »