When you should NOT conduct face-to-face fundraising
Essentially, there are two types of face-to-face fundraising. When fundraising staff, leaders, and board members (or other supporters) meet with…
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Engagement Calling Metrics for Lead Outreach Associates Tasked With Arranging Meetings With Major Donor & Legacy Donor Prospects
Engagement calling, not cold calling! About 1 1/2 years ago I introduced the concept of Engagement Calling as the best…
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Why hardly anyone reads your planned giving newsletter (and what you can do about it).
Confusing? Too often planned giving newsletters are written by lawyers and the lawyers at nonprofits think they are just dandy.…
MoreAll About Fundraising Climate Change (And What You Can Do About It)
The world of fundraising is facing a climate change. For years, the environment has been shifting. The storm clouds have…
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18 takeaways from my recent appearance on the Giving Back Podcast
This was a super-fun interview on The Giving Back Podcast. But if you don’t have time to listen to it,…
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Musical chairs, your donors, and fundraising?
I think fundraisers should recognize that donors are playing a lifelong game of musical chairs. The people you consider to…
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Why treating philanthropists like s#!t is hurting our society.
From bad to worse When I first saw the pictures of the flames engulfing Notre-Dame, I thought to myself, “That’s…
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Why fundraisers should take some lessons from stockbrokers
I stumbled on an article written for stockbrokers (financial advisors) that I found interesting because it recounted the top three…
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3 tips for your fundraising career
1. Always add value. The best way to ensure that you have a job all the time is to make…
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Imagine This…
Did you have a grandmother or elderly aunt, uncle or friend? I did. Imagine if I sent mine letters and emails every once…
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What is 3-to-1 Major Gift Fundraising?
Let’s face it, your supporters want something in exchange for their cash. But, sadly, many nonprofits don’t give. This compelled…
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Beware of the fundraising Illuminati
The Illuminati is the name given to real and fictitious secret society groups claiming special knowledge or enlightenment. In the…
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Today I think I’ll take a victory lap. Will you join me?
I get things wrong all the time. Back in 1993 when I quit my first ‘real’ job in the newspaper…
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12 questions to ask yourself to avoid disrespecting your supporters
In the for profit world they call it customer service. All of us get frustrated when we feel slighted or…
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Will You Become an Engagement Fundraiser?
For the sake of donors, volunteers, advocates, and members everywhere who want to change the world but need an organization…
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How You Can Build Relationships With More Hi-Value Supporters at Lower Costs
Your job is tough! If you’re like most fundraisers, you’re already working hard. You don’t have enough time, you’re pulled…
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Follow This Example To See How Automated Cultivation Can Work To Meet Donor Needs.
If you were a fundraiser at my alma mater seeking a donation from me for a new building, a progressive…
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10 Ways to Use Body Language to Close More Major Gifts
Almost 50 years ago, Albert Mehrabian figured out that our words matter least and our body language matters most in…
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4 types of supporters that self-qualify their interest in being in your portfolio/caseload.
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably know that I think donor surveys are great for…
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