Send Your Fundraising Back to the Future
It’s 1985. A teenage boy named Marty McFly catapults back to 1995 in a time-traveling DeLorean. He sees what life was like in the 1950s. And he sees his parents, when they were his age. Marty quickly realizes that in time-travel mode, the slightest of actions can change the course of the future. What if […]
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 […]
What’s Holding You Back? How To Communicate With Donors So They Are Inspired to Give
What’s holding you back? A simple yet powerful question. It was the question I asked a corporate donor many years ago, which changed the trajectory of their relationship with my organization. I had taken over a portfolio from another colleague, and was briefed on one donor who had pledged a multi-million gift, but hadn’t yet […]
Using a Development Plan to Focus Your Fundraising
A goal without a plan is just a wish.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Embarking on a new year—whether it’s a calendar or fiscal year (or both!)—is always an opportunity for a fresh start. After all, that’s why resolutions are written at the start of a new year. New year. New goals. It’s the same with writing a […]
Major Gift Fundraising for the Small Shop
How are Donors Like Orchids?
Several months back, a friend sent me an orchid for my birthday. It was a really lovely present and now has a special place on my desk. My friend told me that he chose the orchid because he was pretty sure I don’t have a green thumb (correct) and that it would be very low-maintenance […]
Major Gifts Fundraising 101: It’s Not About Us. It’s About Them!
Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving. -Henry Rosso Back in the early 2000s, my husband and I lived in London for a few years. During one memorable job interview, a very clueless (ok, uninformed) interviewer asked me rather abruptly, “what’s the difference between you and someone on the street […]