“Why You Need It: 8 Reasons Why the CFRE Makes a Difference in Fundraising.”
I started my fundraising career almost twenty-five years ago. Like most people during those days, I learned on the job. It was something that I “chose” to be or to do. It was a necessity to keep the organisation operating. Back in…
How to upgrade your donor’s giving to your organisation
organisations often become so focused on acquiring new donors and broadening their universe of prospects rather than developing and building relationships with the ones that they currently have.Many organisations that I see are not focused…
How to follow up with your donors for your calendar year-end campaign
The clock is ticking ever so close to midnight on December 31.Are you ready?Have you taken all of the steps that you possibly can to give your donors opportunities to contribute during this giving season?Here are a few simple last-minute…
How to create a manual that ensures your database stays clean and up to date
Databases are indeed the foundation of your development program.While it is critical to have one, it is not enough to just enter data into it.I have long advocated for consistency in data entry through developing a manual of standards…
How to have a direct mail appeal reply envelope that increases your appeal returns
When organisations create their direct mail appeal letters, the remittance envelope is often an afterthought. Far too many organisations put little thought into how the envelope or reply device should appear and what it should say. Many…
How to approach your major donors during your calendar year-end campaign
How to approach your major donors during your calendar year-end campaign
When organisations start to segment their calendar year-end appeal letters, they often start off with segmenting out active donors and non-active donors. Far too many…
How to have the most leverage in your new fundraising office
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…
How to segment and personalize your year-end fundraising campaign
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.What…
How to find new donors for your nonprofit organisation
Each year, approximately 10% of your non-profit donor base will attrition naturally through death, moving, or just not giving any longer. Then you add lapsed donors on top of that natural attrition, and you are looking at an eroding donor…
How to re-engage lapsed donors in your organisation
A lapsed donor is one who has lapsed from giving at least a calendar year. They are the most significant donors to focus your efforts on re-engaging since they have already demonstrated an interest in your organisation.There are several…
How to have an immediate impact in your new fundraising position
You have just been offered a job as a Director of Development and now what?Well, over the past twenty years, I have had my share of jobs and have started some fundraising offices within nonprofits as part of my consulting practice. As a…
How to follow up on your direct mail appeal letter
Do you mail a spring or fall direct mail appeal letter and hope for the best? Well, "a wing and a prayer" is not a strategy. A strategy by definition is a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.Here are some…
