Is a day of reckoning coming for fundraisers and their employers?
Fundraisers like you are in a difficult spot. You’re constantly being asked to raise more money by your board of…
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Are you chasing wealthy people or philanthropists?
Wealthy people are not necessarily philanthropists. But philanthropists are usually wealthy. When organizations develop their lists, I think, perhaps, a…
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Why your nonprofit’s donor survey could be causing more harm than good
Thinking about sending out a donor survey? If so, be sure to use the survey responses properly so you ‘speak’…
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How to put marketing automation to work for your nonprofit’s fundraising
Catching up. If you read all my previous posts (starting here) about how you can use marketing automation to raise…
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Are you playing games with your supporters?
Sadly some fundraisers think they’re playing a game. But if only one participant is playing, what’s the other one doing?…
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What’s really wrong with moves management?
A lot of people feel uncomfortable with moves management but they don’t know why. I think discomfort might arise because it focuses…
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Top 10 ways marketing automation helps nonprofits raise more money for less
Quick review In my previous post I outlined the 3 types of marketing automation tools fundraising operations really should understand.…
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3 types of marketing automation fundraising operations need to understand (including one you really need to deploy right away)
In this previous post we discussed the fact that lower-level, basic automation works better for raising low-dollar donors. That’s why…
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Do you really need MORE gift officers to raise more money?
Too many nonprofits mistakenly assume that the best way to increase major gifts fundraising is to hire more major gifts…
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Can your nonprofit organization afford to invest in marketing automation?
SPOILER ALERT: You can’t afford not to automate your fundraising operations In my previous post, I promised to examine whether…
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How marketing automation helps nonprofits raise more major gifts, planned gifts and mid-level gifts at lower cost
Quick review In my previous post I outlined the reasons why nonprofit fundraising operations need marketing automation so they raise…
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The case for marketing automation: Why nonprofit fundraising operations should automate tasks to optimize staff performance
Fundraising is getting harder You don’t just feel it. You know it from the data. Retention is getting tougher. Attracting…
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Mass marketing, relationships and trust
One-to-many marketing/fundraising relationships are the same as personal relationships. Trust is essential. But, if you send spammy emails and direct mailers…
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12 Principles of Donor Love From David Love
Today, I’ll be treating you to a guest post written by a true fundraising legend— David Love. David (also known…
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Top 5 reasons why it might be time to kill donor visit quotas!
Quotas… YUCK! Many major and planned giving professionals are required to secure and carry out a certain number of face-to-face…
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How to increase the likelihood that your major or legacy donor prospects will engage in a meaningful conversation with you by 700%
Follow-up failure. Follow-up failure is prevalent in every business category around the world. In 2011, the Harvard Business Review studied…
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How asking for advice helps fundraisers: (1) qualify donors for their portfolios AND (2) build deeper relationships
Your donors want a partner, not a solicitor. Partners ask for advice before asking for money. Partners looking for advice…
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Have I mentioned how self-actualization ties in with why donors give?
Self-actualization (realizing one’s full potential) rests at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Donors aim for self-actualization and giving helps them…
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Do you really need to buy a planned giving website?
In most cases, for most nonprofits… NO! You don’t need to buy a planned giving website. Here’s why: For decades,…
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3 reasons why your donors and donor prospects won’t call you back
Frustration! Recently I was visiting a customer and one of the fundraisers was very frustrated. Thanks to our system, lots of donors…
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Why your job is really about developing heroes, not dollars
People want to see themselves as good, just, righteous, and so on. In other words, they want to be heroic.…
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Charity vs. Philanthropy and Charitable People vs. Philanthropists
Charity – Helping people in need Philanthropy – Making an investment that stimulates other investments or provides opportunity for others…
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Are you building trust?
Trust is the cornerstone of all meaningful relationships. Fail to build trust and you’ll fail to get the gift.…
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Think your donors are stupid?
High-capacity donors aren’t altruistic. They want something from you just as much as you want something from them. At a…
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