The more you can learn about major donors before you meet them, the more effective you will be at that…
A lot of money spent on fundraising has little or no effect on fundraising results. And when you spend money…
Getting that initial engagement from a major donor prospect is a big hurdle. Yes, we all want to meet with…
Are the people working as major gift officers at your organization in the right role? Do they have the best…
Fundraising should be as comfortable as two people exploring possibilities. If done wisely and well, fundraising is nothing more than…
Effective fundraising starts with identity. Compelling fundraising story connects the donation story with the donor’s story. When does a story…
Effective fundraising can deliver real value to donors. For example, it can enhance public reputation. This external identity has tangible…
I used to be TERRIFIED of scheduling visits. Here are 10 things I did to build confidence in a system…
Verba docent, exempla trahunt. “Words teach people, examples compel them.” - Latin proverb[1] It’s simple. We want the donor to…
I hear it often. I ask an advancement leader how a particular fundraiser is doing or ask a president how…
Here’s the situation: You’ve been tasked with finding a fresh batch of potential major donors to engage. You’ve been given…
Every industry loves to predict the future. We predict stock markets, sports outcomes, educational outcomes, climate change, weather, and performance…
Giving vs. sharing Are we asking people to give? Or are we asking them to share? This might feel like…
❌ Average MGO: Shares lots of great information. ✅ Great MGO: Asks important questions and listens. ❌ Average MGO:…
The most important part of advancement is something we can't measure. It's the problem with all fundraising systems and process…
If you are a fundraiser.... You are not a beggar or manipulator who twists arms. Rather, you are a caring,…
The noble dream Small nonprofits have needs. Often, it’s obvious. The furnishings are a bit ragged. The space is cramped.…
❗ THE DONOR BEAT YOU TO THE ASK ❗ We've all been there. You're in the visit. You've been planning…
Need help convincing the 'powers that be' to pony up the cash for the best and most valuable online fundraising…
Biologists model sustainable giving in nature with a simple game.[1] The heroic donation comes from an extreme version of this…
Something’s missing. You might have noticed. The last few posts played the primal-giving game.[1] But they didn’t focus on heroes.…
In 2007, after listening to a lot of donors and conducting a lot of research, I advised, "Don't just ask…
It gets posted all over social media. Featured in books. Heard at seminars. Repeated on webinars. It’s hard to work…
The “one big thing” in fundraising is this: Advance the donor’s hero story. The previous article set in this series…