“Philanthropy, at its core, is not a financial system — it’s a behavioral one. Donor trust, like patient trust, is built on consistent signals of safety, empathy, and responsiveness. When those signals break — when follow-ups don’t happen, gratitude feels mechanical, or communication becomes sporadic — relationships weaken.” — Sanjay Bindra Bindra makes a neurochemistry case…
DetailsHow do you get everyone on your team working collaboratively? If you could you stand to improve the way your nonprofit staff work together as a team, I’ve got some terrific strategies for you. I first learned about them from How to Collaborate with and Influence People Using the SCARF Mo, by Martin Luenendonk, CEO…
DetailsHere comes my occasional “Do’s vs. Don’ts” feature, where I with you something arriving in my box that seems a good ‘teaching opportunity.’ Today we’re going to review a last-day-of-the-campaign on appeal strategy. It arrived as an e. There’s (1) a sender’s address, (2) subject , (3) preview pane, and (4) the e itself.…
DetailsNew Year; New You (ish)? I happened across an article from a NYT feature called “The Morning,” wherein the writer asked readers for the best advice they’d received over the past 12 months. Of course, there were plenty of the expected tips like “Drink water;” “Don’t go to bed angry,” and “Exercise daily.” You…
DetailsI’m a huge fan of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and I often apply their research to nonprofit fundraising and marketing. This article there, How to Find Your Purpose in Life, really struck me. It affirmed something I’ve learned over than 30 years as an in-house development professional: You serve your…
DetailsFundraisers talk a lot about asking. Now, as year-end gifts arrive, let’s turn to the equally important task of thanking. In fact, this may be even important than the ask. If you ask well you get one gift. If you thank well, you may receive a lifetime of gifts. Alas, this is where too…
DetailsIf there was ever a time to optimize your e fundraising strategy, now is it. So, don’t get anxious simply waiting for the phone for stuff to happen. You can make it happen! Because it’s the most generous time of the year. During the period from mid-November through the end of December, organizations typically secure…
DetailsI’ve written about this before. But since I continue to get questions, I’m writing about it again. Fundraisers wonder about the upsides and downsides in asking donors to cover credit card and other gift transaction fees. Hmmn… First, let me be upfront in letting you know my gut emotional response to doing this is “no.”…
DetailsYou may not think you have a “money left on the table” problem. But, bear with me. Because, in my experience, many, many nonprofits – perhaps most of them – have tables in waiting areas literally groaning under the weight of piles and piles and piles of unclaimed, unused money. You’ve done most of the…
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This is one of my all-time most popular posts. And since you’ve still got time to sprinkle a little magic into your year-end fundraising, I decided to share it again!
Consider each of these seven words a magic potion unto themselves.
The more of these words you use, the more powerful a spell your appeal will cast.
Each of these packs a bigger persuasive punch than you might imagine.
Let’s take a closer look at how this works.
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