Jul202026
Finger pointing

Is Your Finger on the Nonprofit Appeal Trigger?

Finger pointingWhatever side of the political spectrum you’re on, the photos below are triggering.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/jul/10/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures

Note: I can’t show you the photos because they’re copyrighted, but if you click on the link you’ll likely recognize at least some of them.

Why am I sharing photos I can’t even show you?

I want to make an important point.

One I feel too few nonprofits give much thought to.

Could you be among them?

If so, I don’t fault you. No one teaches us these things.

Most of us didn’t go to journalism school.

But, let’s face it, journalists really do know how to grab attention!

You want to grab attention with this year’s fundraising appeal, right?

Okay then.

I’m going to share a simple tip that will boost your fundraising returns this year by leaps and bounds.

Again, it’s super simple.

But you’ve got to start now. Or maybe even yesterday.

Are you ready?

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Leave a commentAnnual Giving

Stop Hosting Charity Gala Spectacles: Create Events Where Everyone Belongs

Walk into almost any traditional charity gala and you’ll immediately notice the hierarchy. There’s the VIP reception behind closed doors. The head table at the front of the room. Reserved seating. Long speeches filled with organizational jargon and insider references. Before the evening has really begun, first-time guests have already received a subtle message: “You’re…

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Leave a commentAnnual Giving
Jul62026
Woman donor with credit card and laptop

Boost Gift-Giving with These 5 Donation Page Improvements

Soliciting donations from your supporters is hard work. It requires identifying prospects, building relationships, and ultimately asking them to contribute to your organization. Luckily, your donation page can do some of the heavy lifting for you! When optimized for the donor experience, your donation page can help potential new supporters form a positive first impression…

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Leave a commentOnline Fundraising

Bottom Line: Philanthropy Culture Improves Fundraising

Sign posted in window

Is a culture of philanthropy just something that’s ‘nice’ to have? Does it simply make people feel good? Or might it actually affect your bottom line – making it ‘necessary?’

Do you wear your values as a sign, or live them?

“Philanthropic culture is a key driver of fundraising performance.”

— Adrian Sargent, Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy

I know I’ve worked with organizations who looked at the notion of developing a philanthropy culture a bit like doing staff morale building or sensitivity training. It certainly sounds good, and who can argue with reports from pioneering organizations like the Walter and Evelyn Haas Jr. Fund (see Underdeveloped, Beyond Fundraising: What Does it Mean to Build a Culture of Philanthropy, and Fundraising Bright Spots) and Sea Change Strategies (see Inside-Out Fundraising) that embracing a culture of philanthropy (COP) will bring all sorts of benefits, including recruitment and retention of talent, stronger development plans and infrastructure, a better understanding of the board role in fundraising and a shared understanding of the importance of fundraising across functional siloes.

“As a sector, we need to elevate the importance of fund development as a leadership issue, invest in a stronger talent pool, and strengthen the ability of nonprofits to develop the systems that enable fundraising success.”

— Jeanne Bell, CEO of CompassPoint, co-author of Underdeveloped

“Generally, a culture of philanthropy is one in which everyone—board, staff and CEO—has a part to play in raising resources for the organization. It’s about relationships, not just money. It’s as much about keeping donors as acquiring new ones and seeing them as having more than just money to bring to the table. And it’s a culture in which fund development is a valued and mission aligned component of everything the organization does.”

— Cynthia Gibson, author, Beyond Fundraising

“Without tackling internal issues head-on, we believe the prospects for major fundraising progress are limited. In most organizations, fundraising is limited more by organizational culture and structure than by lack of strategic or tactical know-how.”

— Alia McKee and Mark Rovner, Founders, Sea Change Strategies

Despite the impressive research that’s been done showing the value of a philanthropic culture, too many nonprofits have simply assumed they had one by virtue of merely existing within the social benefit sector.

Or they’ve just been so wrapped up in the process of implementing — delivering services, generating revenue, and adapting to changing ciirrcumstances — they’ve just never moved developing a philanthropic culture from the back burner to the front.

It’s Time for a Change

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Leave a commentCulture & Values, fundraising, innovation/growth/transformation, Philanthropy, Uncategorized, vision and values
Jun112026
Large piece of lemon meringue pie

Act Fast, Raise Big: The Skills You Need to Win Major Donors Today

Large piece of lemon meringue pieShifting politics are creating economic uncertainty for all, and it’s especially scary for U.S. nonprofits who, on average, receive about a third of their total funding from Federal grants. This means nonprofits today need to shift emphasis (and budget) toward individual donor engagement strategies. Giving USA reports 74% of all giving (lifetime + bequests) came from individuals last year.

Major individual donors are, by far, the largest slice of today’s philanthropy pie.

If I had to tell you what you need to do to succeed with major gift fundraising in one sentence it would be this:

Identify major donor prospects… qualify them so you know they want to build a deeper relationship with you… cultivate them… visit with them… listen to them… reflect back to them what you heard… ask them for something specific that resonates with their passions… steward their gift and communicate in an ongoing way to make them feel like the hero they are!

Whew – that was a mouthful!

But don’t worry. It’s definitely not rocket science. A shorter way to say this is:

Meet with donors. Listen to donors. Ask donors. Thank donors.

See — it’s simple!

It’s just good old hard work. Satisfying and rewarding work. And it’s a type of work anyone can learn to do.

Over my 40 years in fundraising, 30 of them working in the trenches as a director of development for organizations with budgets ranging from $1 – $40 million, I have asked for a lot of major gifts.  I know what works, and what doesn’t work. Today I want to give you:

(1) some of my best pro tips and words of wisdom, and also

(2) answers to some of the questions folks frequently ask me .

I hope this information will help you tweak your mindset and invigorate your systems so you can be more successful fundraising in the coming year!

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Leave a commentMajor & Legacy Gifts
Jun82026

Major Gifts Fundraising: Pie in the Sky, Pie in your Face or Your Piece of Pie

Painting of pieces of pie by Wayne Thiebaud

Which major donor prospects are your best ‘piece of pie?’

Do you think Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or MacKenzie Scott are likely prospects for major giving to your nonprofit?

Sadly, all too often I hear board members suggesting names like these (perhaps it may simply be the richest known philanthropist in the community) – despite the fact that the prospect has (1) no known interest in the cause, and (2) nobody at the organization knows or has any link to this person.

Really, this practice must stop!

There’s a much better way.

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3 CommentsUncategorized