Fundraising’s Worst Oversimplification
Fundraising’s worst oversimplification is: “People give because they’re asked.” That’s like saying those who agree to marry do so simply…
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The Most Important Fundraising Metric: The 20-Year Relationship
When we conduct our Vital Signs Assessment, looking for indicators of fundraising success or struggle ahead, one data point stands…
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Don’t Just “Find” Donors; Build Relationships for Lasting Impact
“Where do we find donors?” I’m asked that question quite a bit. To begin, let’s make sure we check all…
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Revolutionize Fundraising: Let’s Stop Making it Uncomfortable
If something about fundraising makes you uncomfortable, it isn’t because there’s something wrong with you but because there’s something wrong…
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It’s About Lots of Meaningful Interactions, Not Major Moves
The most important goals in managing prospects or donors in our portfolios are: Establishing a rapport with donors Maintaining contact…
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The Two Most Important Words in Philanthropic Facilitation: “Because You”
The two most important words in philanthropic facilitation are, “Because you”. As in: “Because you have such a vested interest…
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The Tragedy of Transactional Fundraising
Practitioners of transactional fundraising and the cultures who default to it will never know, see, foster, or benefit from the…
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Philanthropic Partnership Building Begins With Setting the Right Tone
Gone are the days – or so they should be: Of imagining in splendid isolation what donors should do for…
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How Fundraising Overcomplicated Philanthropic Facilitation
Philanthropic facilitation is as old as human history. It began when two or more people saw a common need or…
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If Less Than 80% of Your Volunteers are Giving, Something Is Wrong
We customize our approaches for each client, whether it is for consulting or training, by looking at their longitudinal data…
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Most Senior Fundraisers Don’t Need Training; They Need Treatment
You’re always outnumbered. No matter how much fundraising experience and philanthropic wisdom you acquire, you’re always surrounded by completely inexperienced…
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What’s Your Reason for Requesting The First Meeting With a Prospective Donor?
What’s your reason for requesting the first meeting with a prospective donor? The ones I hear most often, including the…
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Planting Seeds: The Step Before Cultivation
Funny how we use the word “cultivation” so often but rarely address the preceding step, “planting.” Philanthropic potential is like…
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The Days of Easy Fundraising are Over
The days of easy fundraising are over. Now we need to face up to the hard parts of securing and…
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Comfort Zones: The Places That Foster the Fullest Expressions of Philanthropy
My concern with so much of traditional fundraising is that it puts one or more parties in an uncomfortable position.…
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The Essence of Philanthropy: A Vision That Endures
I believe: Fundraising and philanthropy are not interchangeable terms, that the former is dependent on the latter; if fundraising assumes…
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Why You Need to Revolutionize Your Fundraising
A giving revolution has already occurred. So, the longer you wait to adapt to it, the farther behind you will…
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What Unrestricted Funds and Phone Booths Have In Common
People aren’t interested in them anymore. If you fancy yourself clever, persuasive, charismatic, or irresistible, I challenge you to see…
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Fundraising Metrics Vs. The Natural Rhythms of Philanthropy
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” It’s been cited as one of the two most important quotes…
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How to Retain Your Best Fundraisers and Donors – Listen
When we poll fundraisers in advance of team practices (I don’t like the word “training” because people aren’t pets), we…
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The Power of Building Relationships: Why Donors Need Good Fundraisers
Why, of all people, would a donor want to build a relationship with a fundraiser? If you are a donor,…
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What Happens When We Don’t Understand the Why of Giving
Not as many people give according to our “strategic pillars” as we would like to believe or as our fundraising…
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Yes, you have to spend money to raise money, but…
A lot of money spent on fundraising has little or no effect on fundraising results. And when you spend money…
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How Balanced or Imbalanced is Your Fundraising?
Fundraising should be as comfortable as two people exploring possibilities. If done wisely and well, fundraising is nothing more than…
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