Let’s break down “Donor-Advised Funds” so that you can navigate your way through the fundraising process with clarity and ease.
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The first rule of non-profit fundraising should be: if a donor tells you they want to be referred to in a certain way, you do it.
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Frequently, non-profit organizations are too focused on where they are — not where they are going. Organizations will have "banner years," crushing fundraising goals, engaging donors, and hosting sold-out events, and assume that they can maintain that level for years to come. They can't.
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Board governance is critical to your organization’s success, as well as maintaining an engaged Board of Directors that understands its responsibilities — and what it is not responsible for. Ultimately, governance ensures everything is working as it should by clarifying and maintaining the outlined roles.
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Sometimes, after long periods have passed, board members can, unfortunately, become bored. Somewhere along the way, their energy or excitement has subsided, and they stop committing mental energy to their board role and wait to term off.
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While many non-profit organizations are focused on raising money year-over-year and use this measurement to determine success, this fails to provide an analysis of historic performance and prevents accurate projections.
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There is an incredible opportunity to make the Betty White Challenge into a lasting, positive day for your organization by retaining these donors and their financial support.
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As we transition into a new year, non-profit executives should take some time to lay a solid foundation for a successful and strategic 2022.
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Organizations must consider the critical differences between professional solicitors and fundraising counsel when engaging a non-profit consultant.
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How many donors and prospects a major gift officer or other professional fundraiser should have in their portfolios is a moving target and while there isn’t an exact science to making that type of decision, for many years I have recommended development personnel consider “Dunbar’s Number.”
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Whether you want to call it a Capital Campaign, Major Gift Campaign, or a combination of the two, focused fundraising campaigns provide nonprofit organizations a unique opportunity to advance their mission.
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Philanthropy is supposed to be about bringing together people and passions, but if you don’t even know someone’s basic information – how can you make that connection?
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The ongoing year has seen a rise in fundraising trends. That, along with surveys and information technology, might help us predict its future reasonably accurately for the next two years or so.
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While perhaps initially a short-term solution to ensure the organization was able to continue to meet the needs of the communities they serve, there’s been a rising comfort level with a virtual format.
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Crafting an effective fundraising letter can seem like a daunting task, and fundraising letters aren’t like other writing — you’re writing to get results and to get people to care enough to open their checkbooks.
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Too often in non-profit organizations, we are focused on capturing the richest individuals as donors. However, you may miss the mark if you rush into gift solicitation with donors simply because you believe they have the most money.
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Sending a standard thank you note to a donor after their gift is received is important, but treating every donor the same is an ineffective strategy. Here are a few segmentation categories to consider and early action steps to take to steward your donors.
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As we transition into a new - and hopefully better - year, non-profit executives should take some time to lay a solid foundation for a successful and strategic 2021.
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You have likely considered kicking off a major gifts or capital campaign with a feasibility study to examine the factors that could contribute to your campaign’s success or failure, such as leadership, target audience, brand impact, and costs.
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Sustainability efforts do not need to be grandiose or complicated. One of the most impactful things you can do to promote sustainability in your organization is to implement measures to retain your existing donors.
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