What do we want most to sustain our nonprofits? Loyal donors, natch! How do we get them? Oh, that’s simple. We badger them for gifts. When they give, we warehouse them in our database. We then send a form letter (pretending it’s personal because we use their given name and indicate their gift was earmarked…
DetailsWhat’s really at the heart of the matter? Donor-centered fundraising is not about money. Huh? If that first sentence has you scratching your head, it’s time to take a moment. I know. You’re thinking this is just semantics. You’re thinking that, of course, fundraising is about money. You’re thinking we can pretend it’s about something…
DetailsThis month I’m writing about how to be donor centered. Today I’m taking us in a perhaps unexpected direction – the path of social media. What does that have to do with being donor centered? Everything. There are two principle reasons why: 1. Social media is about relationships, not technology. Your constituents want a relationship.…
DetailsHow often do you gift this gift to donors? I’ve personally declared November ‘Gratitude for Blessings’ month. For me, this means finding opportunities to demonstrate gratitude. And today I’m grateful for you, my readers. Whereas donors are the center of your nonprofit’s universe, you are the center of mine. When I can’t share my ideas, …
DetailsHow do you show donors you’re thankful? November culminates [in the United States] with a feast of Thanksgiving for all with which we are blessed. Our greatest blessing in the public benefit sector is the donors who support our work and enable us to fulfill our vital missions. Last month I talked a lot about…
DetailsHere comes this month’s *SMIT (Single Most Important Thing I have to tell you). The alternative to fundraising is a lot scarier than fundraising. There are a lot of scary problems in the world. Cancer… global warming… natural disasters… homelessness… domestic violence… human trafficking… malaria… undrinkable water… injustice… poverty… Is fundraising scarier than doing what…
DetailsIn the past series of posts I’ve talked about the reasons many board members loathe fundraising. It boils down to: (1) fear (see here, here and here; (2) lack of clarity about their role (see here, hereand here, and (3) insufficient framing, training, coaching and cheer leading by staff. As much as we staff …
DetailsThe absolutely most important game a board member must play is ‘follow the leader.’ In my last post series on “The 3 Ways We Go Wrong Asking Nonprofit Boards to Help Raise Funds” I spe of the unique job board members have as role mos. A growing body of research shows that human beings are,…
DetailsIn Jewish tradition the “Gabbai Tzedekah,” the money collector, held a very special and esteemed role as the collector and disburser of funds to help the poor. The root of “tzedekah” means justice; it was simply the right thing to do to help. The Gabbai risked him/herself, in some ways, for the sake of the…
DetailsIs this a board member you know? Board members often take unrestrained ight in not cottoning to fundraising. They smile and wink and pat one another on the back about it. “Oh, fundraising, that’s not for me!” “No, it’s yucky; I’ll do anything but fund raise.” “Yeah, fundraising is for folks who like to sell.”…
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