4 Keys to Raise Money in Today’s Attention-Sucking Nonprofit Jungle
Wondering where fundraising is heading in our highly networked, overly saturated, noisy-as-all-get-out post-digital revolution world? A world that’s really a jungle, with so much competition for attention — for-profits, other nonprofits, socially conscious businesses, political campaigns, friends, and family?
Your mantra can no longer simply be about “creating awareness.”
Alas, attention is increasingly ephemeral.
The new nonprofit currency is not creating attention. It’s building loyalty.
You simply can’t afford to keep losing 8 out of 10 new donors. Which means it’s time to reframe how you do fundraising. It can’t be primarily about going after money. It has to be about giving, and receiving, love. If you do it the right way, money will follow as a natural outgrowth. [I’m going to talk about this more in an article focusing on “connection” next week.]
Today, I want to explore 4 keys to raising money in our revolutionized technological zeitgeist.
Of course, sometimes it’s easier said than done.
Bad News/Good News:
The fundraising environment is altered. Mostly due to technology.
Lots and lots of technology.
AI fuels both predictive models and automation. Software enables multiple, simultaneous email campaigns. New tools allow easy sharing and engagement on social media. High quality photography and video can be made with the ease of a smart phone. Multiple new places regularly emerge to find and connect with potential constituents. And on and on and on… If you feel you’re being hit almost daily with a firehose of new technologies, you’re not alone.
Technology has made it possible to do things never before imaginable.
But… possible and probable are not the same thing.
Not every problem needs to be addressed immediately. Some will work themselves out.
When organizations aren’t raising as much money as they need, they’ll often tell me: “We need to recruit new board members.” This is very often true, but it’s only a piece of the puzzle as to why they’re not being more successful with fundraising.
In my last article I talked about 
This week the groundhog told us it’s going to be an early spring!
What if I told you there’s a teensy little digital upsell that could skyrocket your year-end fundraising results? Would that be of interest?
Are you leading with a “gift” or “favor” to positively incline your donor to say “yes?”
This year Giving Tuesday is November 28th. So, soon.
From time to time, I host guest posts from professionals with niche expertise. There are just some things others know a lot more about than do I, especially when it comes to technology. Today’s article is one of those, from someone who really understands the ins and outs of text messaging and fundraising. Here’s what he has to say.
I’m a huge Seth Godin fan, always in awe of the plethora of wisdom he manages to pack into one pithy post. I save them up, building a collection I can draw upon for inspiration as life, personal and professional, pushes in.
The single most important lesson I ever learned.
If you’ve never read management and marketing guru 
Have you been struggling with whether – and how – to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (AI; ChatGPT) into your work? Or perhaps you’ve been worrying your job will soon be obsolete?
Everyone knows storytelling = good
Early in my career I received a piece of fundraising advice that has stuck with me to this day:
You are known by the company you keep.
There’s a lot of potential legacy giving out there in the universe. Per 
Today a friend, who serves on the board of a struggling local arts organization, asked me what they can do to increase their fundraising. I asked her a few questions; then answered simply: “Have more conversations with people; make more friends.”
Here is some wisdom gleaned from many decades of personal nonprofit work.
I confess I know virtually zip about artificial intelligence.
Annual reports don’t have to be dry as dust. In fact, the most effective ones are not financial reports; they’re a story with the donor at the center. And they inspire action.
For many nonprofits, the yearly annual report is often just another task on a very long to-do list. Most charities are juggling a lot—development, program maintenance, fundraising, and more—and the annual report can feel like yet another mandatory routine project. One that often gets handled at the last minute without much intentional care and effort.
Okay, I recently let folks know I’d “finagled” a discount for them. After one reader told me the word “finagle” means “to obtain something by devious or dishonest means,” I sent an apologetic “Ruh Roh” email. I received a lot of forgiving feedback. Thank you! Many of you kindly supported my initial use of the word “finagle.” Apparently, there is more than one definition.
Does proving your point persuade your nonprofit donor?
Your nonprofit’s story is the whole ball of wax.
I’ve taken to including a series of “DO’s” and “DON’Ts” for all sorts of fundraising and nonprofit marketing messages over the past several years. My purpose is not to shame anyone, but simply to provide educational moments offering example-based food for thought as you craft your own appeals, thank you’s, reports and more.
In 
You’ve got one month before fall fundraising season begins in earnest.
Babies can teach you the same thing.
You bet!
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