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No one likes to hear complaints. But when you work for a nonprofit or a private sector business, you need to welcome complaints. Here’s why:… Read More
I hear a lot of people complaining about gift officers not meeting with enough donors. Usually, these complaints come from people who don’t really do… Read More
After more than a quarter century as a fundraiser and a professor focused on fundraising research, theories, data, and experiments, Dr. Russell James has determined… Read More
If you think fundraising is about schmoozing, please change your attitude quickly or leave the profession. Several times I’ve heard fundraisers say that they’re good… Read More
“Did you get the [information, brochure, or letter] I sent?” Has anyone really had great success starting an outreach call with this question? In my… Read More
As a Major Gifts Fundraiser don’t you want to fire your employer at times? Here are my top 10 reasons why many do just that…. Read More
Mechanized thank you’s. I’ve been thinking that, perhaps, too many organizations have turned thanking into an automated obligation. They realize it’s something they’re supposed to… Read More
Today, instead of talking about what makes people give, let’s take a look at what thwarts giving. You can find examples of communications that depress… Read More
I sincerely hope I’m wrong. After all, I’m no economist. But it’s becoming more and more difficult for me to ignore the storm clouds gathering… Read More
A few years ago a client told us she was being asked by her leadership to consider cancelling her MarketSmart subscription. She said that during… Read More
The traditional spray and pray marketing communications tactics just don’t work. Here’s why: 1. They are Irrelevant In this day and age, people get bombarded… Read More
Donors build relationships with nonprofits the same way they build relationships with people. Slowly! Step 1: Meet through friends Step 2: Chat a bit Step… Read More
Top 10 reasons you should take the new Donor Story: Epic Fundraising online training course with Dr. Russell James You’ll understand the secret reason people… Read More
You have plenty of data. That data probably includes donation recency, frequency, and monetary value. You might also track involvement information (participation in events, volunteerism,… Read More
In case you’ve ever wondered why some donors prefer to stay anonymous, here are 6 proven reasons why: They do not want fundraisers from other… Read More
I’m always a bit baffled when I see fundraising letters that fail to take into consideration the following. After all, research by Professor Siegfried Vogele has clearly proven… Read More
It’s about their timing, not yours. Fundraisers, as well as their organization’s leadership and board members, need to come to terms with the fact that… Read More
Find ways to release dopamine and/or oxytocin in your supporters’ brains. Oxytocin creates intimacy, trust, and builds healthy relationships. It is essential for creating strong… Read More
We surveyed a few hundred fundraisers to find out what they felt were the most (and least) important data points for qualifying and prioritizing major… Read More
Let technology do what you don’t do well. Everyone knows that technology has been the key for innovation in the private sector. But the nonprofit… Read More
I know, it’s frustrating. You want to thank them but they won’t respond to your outreach. First things first. There are a bunch of reasons why… Read More
Here’s my list of essential major donor needs that you must aim to fulfill: Your best donors want you to do the important work they… Read More
Accenture – the world’s largest consulting firm – says that we’re in the era of the “nonstop consumer”. According to their website, “A customer’s path… Read More
The reasons why fundraisers won’t make outbound calls to donors are because they are: FEARFUL: They fear rejection. CONFUSED: They don’t know what to say…. 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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