This week, I read a post by the very insightful Veritus Group. In the post, they asked,”When you think of your donor, do you first think of them as a source of cash – as a way to reach the goals you have set?” This question indeed touched a cord in me. How many organisation […]
For many donors who hold great wealth, they sometimes want to do more than just give. In fact, they want to shape directly rather than just support a charitable cause. This term is often called, “hyperagency.” In most cases, that is fine. In fact, it is very welcomed. Paul Shervish, Director of the Center on […]
Yep. You can go through the motions with your donor, but if you don’t A S K, you don’t G E T. Simple as that. So, where do you even start? Each donor is an individual. And, being an individual, he or she needs an individualized strategy – each solicitation is a campaign on its […]
The one best tip I have for nonprofit newsletters – stop calling them newsletters. I am of the mind that this title creates a great deal of confusion both for the nonprofit and the donor. Why? First, donors are like investors. They are giving their financial resources to support something, dare I say, a mission […]
Cultivate, cultivate, cultivate. The way we talk about donors sometimes makes me think that we are in relationships. And, in a sense, I guess we are. Cultivation, what is it? Well for one, it’s about learning more about a donor and his or her interests and how our cause’s mission intersects with their personal passions. […]
There are two things that you need to consider when developing a major gift strategy. The first is deciding on what level of gift you want to solicit in person, and the second is prioritizing the list of prospects from the screening process to ensure that there are enough prospects for each level of gifts […]
The world is full of prospects. Now who to see first. Well, those that are most likely to make an individual donation. Without a crystal ball, how do you even begin to determine those most likely to make a donation? Well, first you look at linkage. Is there a strong connection between your organisation and […]
Is this your major gift strategy? Big donor to save the day? You know. You look up every large property owner in town and create a list. Or, how about you excavate other folks annual reports and assume, hey why not. When you live in a small town or city, this strategy is especially compounded. […]
Oh no! We need a new building. The offer letter is on the table. What now? We need money! But wait, we haven’t done any fundraising in the past. We need millions tomorrow to move into our new facility and to make all the necessary upgrades. Time, we don’t have time! Does this scenario sound […]
When you are sick, you go to the doctor. The doctor advises you on what you need to do in order to return to health. You listen, you follow the instructions, and you get better. It is not that way with fund development. You look for the qualifications – the MBA, the CFRE, but do […]
Does your board of directors periodically practice board self-evaluation? If it doesn’t, it should. Self-evaluation is a great way to maintain board awareness around its responsibilities as a board member and the potential need for changes on the board level. It is a great way to check in with each member and to learn about […]
What is the old saying, “You say it ‘potato’ and I say it is …” Unfortunately, when it comes to donors, I don’t think you can splice words. Are we asking for money? Asking for support? Or are we thinking about this relationship differently and “inviting investments.” Investments in a better future. A brighter world. […]
For the past several weeks now, I have been doing a lot of posting. And, I have heard back from many of you. It seems like there is an issue with our boards of directors. Many of you have had questions, comments, and concerns about your board situation. Some are working on strengthening your existing […]
Nonprofit board development is THAT important. Not just to the organisation as a whole, but, how it directly impacts fundraising effectiveness. A board dream team just does not appear. It needs to be systematically developed.It all starts with an inventory through the creation of a recruitment matrix. The recruitment matrix is a tool that you […]
Most nonprofit capital campaigns have some form of named gift opportunities. However, contrary to what one might think is that gifts made to name a specific room in a building do not actually pay for that space. In most cases, the costs of a room are more determined by how visible and how prestigious this […]
Board Member Roles and Responsibilities During a Capital Campaign In a capital campaign board members should make the organisation a priority through: Reviewing their philanthropic priorities and committing to make a “stretch” gift to the campaign. Board members should all support the Annual Fund campaign each year in addition to supporting the capital campaign. All board members […]
Not sure about your experiences with capital campaigns but they are highly technical with lots of moving pieces. Oftentimes, groups want to skimp on the planning stages. For instance, they want to jump right into campaign mode without doing a feasibility study. They want to move right into opening up rolodexes without having a […]
Just because your not a large fundraising shop, doesn’t mean that you can’t raise major gifts like the “big boys.” I assert that you can and even better! And, I even offer a free e-course on how to do it… One of the first things that small shops must do to ensure their success is […]
Capital campaigns have become in fashion lately. Perhaps it is the recovering economy or perhaps it is something quite else. But, whatever it is, I now have two potential campaigns lined up for this next year. What is a capital campaign? Well you know, a campaign to build a building right? Well, yes and no. […]
Strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising are processes with specific steps. All three used to be performed independently of the other. Today, their integration into a single process is exemplified by the following principles that all fundraising flows from strategic planning and that all strategic planning should be done with a resource development orientation. Strategic planning […]
So you ask…now that the planning is over now what do we do with the plan? It is time to package it up! Once the initial goals and objectives are drafted and approved by the planning team and board of directors, the organisation needs to look at the two main audiences both internally and externally […]
So often I have heard this one line uttered…”But I give of my time and that is my gift!” Yes and no. As a Board of Director, you are expected to give of your time. You are a volunteer. You have fiduciary responsibilities that you are not usually paid for. And folks contrary to what […]
As a consultant, I get asked this question all the time. How do I find new donors for my fundraising efforts? Well, let me offer a few easy and cost-effective steps that don’t require you to purchase or rent costly donor lists for your fund development program: 1. At every single board meeting and at […]
A little early you might say but… Not really because if you are not hearing sleigh bells ringing then you might already be behind the eight ball in your development office. Santa is getting his sleigh ready and so should you be. Now is the time to be preparing for calendar-year end fund development. If […]
quick fundraising ideas for nonprofit organisations
and crowdfund campaign to help you raise more money for your favourite cause. Many organisations when seeking to start their first development office do not which way to turn or where to start first. Far too many organisations often start and end with grant writing. They don’t get beyond this particular strategy. Quick Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofit organisations. It is year-end campaign planning time. Far too often I see organisations using a blanket approach with their donor base. With a few minor tweaks in their strategy, they can increase their revenues by a third, sometimes even double. >