FOR FUNDRAISERS ONLY: Read this whenever you feel beaten down by people who don’t understand what you do for humanity
If you are a fundraiser…. You are not a beggar or manipulator who twists arms. Rather, you are a caring,…
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Why you must deliver value in fundraising, not just take the money and run
The noble dream Small nonprofits have needs. Often, it’s obvious. The furnishings are a bit ragged. The space is cramped.…
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The Art of the Ask: How to Get the Full Amount from Your Donors
❗ THE DONOR BEAT YOU TO THE ASK ❗ We’ve all been there. You’re in the visit. You’ve been planning…
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Dr. James explains how to harness friendship reciprocity to unlock heroic donations
Biologists model sustainable giving in nature with a simple game.[1] The heroic donation comes from an extreme version of this…
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The Power of Heroic Philanthropy: Understanding Donor Motivations
Something’s missing. You might have noticed. The last few posts played the primal-giving game.[1] But they didn’t focus on heroes.…
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From “Giving To” to “Giving Through”: The Great Philanthropic Shift
In 2007, after listening to a lot of donors and conducting a lot of research, I advised, “Don’t just ask…
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Debunked Fundraising Myth: The #1 Reason People Don’t Give Is Because They Weren’t Asked
It gets posted all over social media. Featured in books. Heard at seminars. Repeated on webinars. It’s hard to work…
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The importance of expressing impact and gratitude in fundraising
The “one big thing” in fundraising is this: Advance the donor’s hero story. The previous article set in this series…
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Why Nonprofits Should Choose Growth-Minded Board Members Over Traditional Professionals
When choosing board members, so many nonprofits gravitate towards doctors, lawyers, and accountants. Why? I think partially because it’s easier…
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It Takes Two to Drive Success: How Rethinking Nonprofit Leadership Can Solve Your Gift Officer Turnover Problem
As turnover in the nonprofit sector continues to plague so many organizations, and not just with major gift officers, it’s…
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Revolutionizing Fundraising by Building a Philanthropic Supply Chain
Donors are looking for a better philanthropic value proposition. They want to know how their dollars will be turned into differences.…
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7 Ways Bad Leadership in Fundraising Drives Away Your Best Gift Officers
“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so…
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Dr. James explains the power of giving: why leading with a gift always wins
Lead with a gift: The primal-giving game Biologists model sustainable giving in nature with a game.[1] This primal-giving game models…
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The Power of Follow Up: The One Question Every Major Gift Fundraiser Should Ask
I didn’t know I should be asking this one question when talking to donors: “When would be a good time…
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10 Reasons Why Major Gift Officers Quit to Look for New Jobs
Why do gift officers quit their jobs so frequently? Gift officer turnover is holding so many nonprofit organizations back. And…
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Why Standard Fundraising Practices Are Hurting Your Philanthropic Partnerships
So much of standard fundraising practice is inconsistent with philanthropic partnership building. Would you enter into, feel comfortable with, or…
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Why reciprocity must be an essential tool in your fundraising toolbox
Every single human being in every single society on earth subscribes to an unspoken rule when it comes to reciprocation…
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How transactional donor relationships kill generosity
In nature, giving to unrelated others can be sustainable. But it requires some form of reciprocity. This need not be…
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How to Respond Effectively to This Common Objection and Secure More Major Gifts
Have you heard this objection before? “I’ve been giving for 20 years. There’s nothing you can tell me I don’t…
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If you don’t like wealthy people, it’s time to think about a career change
Nobody gives when they feel the professionals working for an organization or institution dislike them. I’m writing this today because…
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Dr. James explains why sustainable giving starts by answering, “Do we have a shared future?”
It starts with a question In nature, sustainable giving to unrelated others does occur. But it happens only with reciprocal…
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Effective Fundraising Strategy is Rooted In Fundraising Fact
Everyone Is entitled to their own fundraising opinions but not their own fundraising facts. That’s what the brilliant Daniel Patrick…
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How fundraisers can help their cause resonate with donors
Story works In fundraising, story is powerful. Story works better than formal descriptions. Story works better than facts and figures.…
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9 Secrets for Success in Major Gifts Fundraising
Here are Nine Things I Wish I Knew My First Year in Major Gifts 1. Stop talking so much. Ask…
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