Engagement is Everything!

10 years ago

Hi-end hotels = Service is everything   Amazon.com = Convenience is everything   Hardware tools = Reliability is everything   Home…

5 Ways to FAIL at Major and Legacy Gift Marketing (and 3 Ways to SUCCEED)

10 years ago

Ways to fail 1. Listen to your marketing staff, family, friends, board members, or your "gut" 2. Listen to your…

DUMB = Only Marketing Planned Gifts to Supporters When They Are About to Die

10 years ago

Recently I was reminded of a presentation at a conference that baffled me for two reasons:   BAFFLED REASON #1-  The…

How to Increase Fundraising Revenue by 68% by Simply Mimicking Your Donors

10 years ago

I love studies about waiters and restaurants. If you've been reading my blog for a while you know that I…

Your Donor Engagement Experience Sucks!

10 years ago

If your donor engagement experience sucks, your organization might be in real big trouble because donors have seriously impressive memories.…

The Problem with Too Many Planned Giving Leads

10 years ago

It's a good problem to have. But I've heard people tell me they'd rather have less, more qualified leads (ready…

How Tracy Makes the Donor the Hero

10 years ago

It ain’t about you and your organization. Of course, you are great. But the donor funds your efforts. Without the…

Donor Retention

10 years ago

I think we're in trouble.   No, I'm not worried about the economy. It's not the recent jobs report either.…

Do Only Lazy Fundraisers Avoid Chat Tools?

10 years ago

You may or may not have noticed that we have a chat tool on the bottom right corner of our…

Why Your Organization Needs to Change

10 years ago

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to…

Why Your Donors Say "No" and What to Do About It

10 years ago

Jedi and their apprentices are shown practicing throughout the Star Wars series. And that's no surprise because everyone knows that…

“You’re in Sales! Get Over It!” or The Difference Between Fundraising and Selling

10 years ago

A while back, I wrote a blog post about the difference between buying and giving. I said, "There is no difference…

The Best Way to Ensure That No One Reads Your Stuff

10 years ago

Recently I told my writer that most people won't read her body copy. That hurt her feelings. She was upset…

How Gritty Are You?

10 years ago

I think "grit" is more important than talent or skill.   Grit is courage, strength of character and "stick-to-it-ive-ness."  …

Why Better Marketers Raise More Money!

10 years ago

Some will say it's unfair. Heart disease (the disease that killed my father when he was only 63) kills almost…

Know Me, Like Me, Trust Me

10 years ago

Fundraisers can learn a lot from private business experts and entrepreneurs. One of my favorite bloggers, Thomson Dawson, recently wrote a…

Two Smart Ways to Acquire New Major Donors

10 years ago

Recently I was asked to attend a nonprofit's Board of Directors meeting.  My client wanted me to present some data…

The Real Secret to Success is Failure

10 years ago

1. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” - Robert F. Kennedy 2. “I have not failed. I’ve…

Why the Heck Should a Donor Give You One Red Cent?

10 years ago

If you have 18 minutes to spare, I implore you to spend it watching this speech.   In just 18…

Now Amazon Gives 0.5% of Your Supporters' Purchase Amounts to YOUR Organization

10 years ago

Do you think your supporters buy stuff on Amazon.com? Dumb question, huh?   Well did you know that your organization…

What Can Your Major Gifts Department Learn From the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?

10 years ago

Nothing. Well... almost nothing. Here's what your major gifts department can learn.   1. The ice bucket challenge is an…

Identify What Works in Your Marketing and Do More of It!

10 years ago

One of my clients is having fantastic success with the following: Moving single donation supporters to become perpetual donors Increasing…

Convenience Trumps Everything

10 years ago

Convenience is powerful.   Look at Amazon.com. Look at McDonalds. Look at any other person or company from whom you buy products…

5 Ways to Use Events to Generate Enormous Planned Gifts

10 years ago

1. Have an announcer point out who among the attendees is already in the Legacy Society (ask permission first).  …