If you’re like the dozens of other fundraisers I know, chances are you’re pretty busy these days. But you still want to be learning and sharpening your skills too. Here’s...
Is it ever ok NOT to retain donors?
Maybe you saw this headline in The Chronicle of Philanthropy last Friday: Charities Lost 103 Donors For Every 100 Donors They Gained in 2014, Says Study. Nonprofits are right to...
Does Your Nonprofit Have an R&D Budget?
Many of the world’s most innovative products were created as a result of dedicated corporate research and development efforts. Products like the iPhone, the space shuttle, pacemakers, stealth paint, microwave...
What nonprofits can learn from reality TV
I asked Greg Warner, CEO/Founder of MarketSmart if he'd share his take on the two biggest mistakes that nonprofits make. And if you happen to know Greg (I'm thoroughly...
5 Great Online Tools For Nonprofits
I'm always on the lookout for new tools that make it easier for fundraising and nonprofit leaders to get their jobs done. Unique ways for nonprofits to engage their supporters,...
Middle donor engagement increases revenue by 20%+
In the third quarter of 2014 one of my clients -- a small hunger and poverty relief organization -- began implementing a middle donor engagement strategy that included phone calls, handwritten thank...
Google Grants vs. Paid Search Campaigns
Sometimes otherwise smart fundraising consultants give bad advice. I saw that happen last week. A senior-level consultant from a typically reputable fundraising agency completely missed the mark on digital strategy....
Should you include a reply envelope in your thank you letters?
I get this question all the time! And I’m sure there are a lot of people who will disagree with me on this topic. My standard response to development directors...
The danger of nonprofits chasing discounts
A few years ago one of our nonprofit clients fired our firm because they found another fundraising agency that quoted them a cheaper price for their direct mail services. This other...
Fundraising Myth Busters: Hope gets better results than need
Welcome to the seventh and final installment of my Fundraising Myth Busters series. I hope you’ve gleaned some valuable information that you can put to work to raise your organization...