2019 Fundraising Trends – And How to Take Advantage of Them
How was your January, fundraiser friend? I view January as a test run of sorts, before we really embark on a new year and new resolutions. This may feel especially true as we’re still figuring out what happened in 2018. Last year we saw lower year-end fundraising results. We saw a decline in the number […]
Goals, Excuses, & Negative Splits in the End-of-Year Sprint
I started 2018 by setting a number of resolutions around key areas of personal and professional growth. One I set for myself was increasing the frequency of my runs. I’ve written before about running, and the truth is that life and work often get in the way of my training goals. But this goal was […]
Two Secrets to Donor Happiness
Recently I led a training that covered a wide range of fundraising fundamentals. Afterward, I asked participants what they learned. Overwhelmingly – and, honestly, to my surprise – most said they now understood the importance of thanking and reporting back to donors. Why did this catch me by surprise? Often fundraisers just want to learn […]
Why Mr. Rogers Made Me Cry: How To Inspire Donors To Be The Helpers In This World
I recently saw the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? about the creation of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and the role it played in establishing PBS’ television presence. I recall watching the show as a child, so was intrigued to learn more about this iconic program now, through the eyes of a parent. I was […]
Are You Building Relationships Or Collecting Checks? Why Donors Leave the Organizations They Support
Source: Banksy On December 31st, 2017, I became a statistic. I joined the 60% of donors who become former donors to the charities they had been supporting. I was the textbook definition of a below the radar donor with potential. I had loyally supported a few smaller to mid-size nonprofits at a self-selected mid-level giving […]
Seeing Fundraising Through A Donor’s Eyes
As human beings, we are hard wired for connection. Our brains are literally designed to form bonds and seek families—biological or synthetic. Behavioral psychologists have done lots of research to understand how our brains respond to philanthropy and volunteer. Three different studies* I’ve come across all concluded that there’s a correlation between a person’s charitable […]