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An old book filled with timeless lessons. I was cleaning out a cabinet last weekend and I came across an old book I read long… Read More
In most cases, for most nonprofits… NO! You don’t need to buy a planned giving website. Here’s why: For decades, nonprofit leaders and staff have… Read More
Most nonprofits have very narcissistic websites that promote how great they are and how well suited they are to accomplish their mission. Sure, it’s true… Read More
I know the feeling. A supporter calls to tell you your email or letter spelled her name wrong. She’s pissed! You begin to sweat and your muscles… Read More
You know major gift fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint. But your boss wants results now. So you screen your list for wealth. Or… Read More
Cultivation starts and ends with great communication. Goodbyes are just as important as hellos. So here are some great ways to end emails you send… Read More
When it comes to volume of donor communications, it’s not a matter of how much or how little (especially when it comes to email). It’s… Read More
First, a short story Recently I participated in a roundtable discussion led by a salesperson for one of those cookie-cutter planned giving website companies. She was… Read More
1- Permission Donors have immense power these days. They can ignore your communications! The best way to ensure that they don’t exercise that power is… Read More
My uncle is a radiologist. Recently he told me about a 2007 study of radiologists. The study found that including a photo of a patient along with their… Read More
Every marketing channel needs to be optimized and employed properly. Sadly most fundraisers are using email the wrong way. Email should NOT be used primarily… Read More
Unlike populist fundraisers (who treat everyone the same), engagement fundraisers aim to find and build relationships with “first class passengers”— people who are willing to “pay”… Read More
Each year my amazing staff grab the best, most popular blog posts from the prior year to create a book for our readers. At last, the… Read More
After reading that headline, did you feel a sense of urgency? Sorry to trick you but I wanted you to see what it felt like… Read More
Andrew Olsen knows a thing or two about direct marketing. On his blog, he debunks 3 major donor myths that pertain to marketing. You can… Read More
Although direct mail requires printing and postage, we still include it in our marketing plans because it can be effective if you do it right…. Read More
Firstly, email subject lines are actually headlines. The great advertising legend David Ogilvy once said, “On average, five times as many people read the headlines… Read More
People often ask me, “How does MarketSmart work with partners (allies) to help nonprofits lower costs and increase revenues?” It’s a good question. Many people… Read More
Ever want to hear the voice of SmartIdeas (Greg Warner)? Here’s your chance. Mazarine Trez of Wildwoman Fundraising interviewed me some time ago. We discussed… Read More
Here’s the copy (below) from an old letter sent by my alma mater. In 2012 they achieved their goal and raised $1 billion but, in my… Read More
Pokemon Go is a shiny object. A time waster for a fundraiser seeking serious results. It focuses on the lowest rung of the ladder. DO… Read More
Recently I was interviewed by Mazarine at Wild Woman Fundraising! You can hear the interview here. There’s one big point from the interview I figured you’d want… Read More
Last year I worked with Dr. Russell James to present his findings on what words work to raise money (Check out the ground-breaking webinar titled… Read More
Einstein once said: “Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts.”We all know that measuring performance is essential… Read More
Feeling like your job is getting harder because donor expectations have changed and competition for the charitable dollar is growing?
Finding that the old orthodoxies and conventions espoused by so-called experts in online echo-chambers and at conferences don’t work anymore?
Want to help more people make impact by facilitating their acts of philanthropy but feel like too many obstacles keep getting in your way?
Then this book is for you.
Engagement Fundraising was developed from the perspective of a donor who discovered firsthand that the impersonal, spray-and-pray approaches of his beloved charity were not only offensive but also wasteful and ineffective. So he took action. And now, you can too.
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