Hands-On Fundraising

JUNE 18, 2024

Have I ever told you how I became a fundraiser? I’m hesitant to share because I don’t often find myself interesting enough… But I think in this case, there were a few reasons why my first fundraising job became a career lasting decades. And I hope that’s useful to you.

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

OCTOBER 26, 2023

Let’s take a look at three areas where nonprofits can drive increased fundraising efficiency: staff retention, donor qualification, and campaign planning. By Chelsey Newmyer What first comes to mind when you think about increasing your nonprofit’s fundraising efficiency? Churn can harm your nonprofit’s relationships.

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Clairification

APRIL 25, 2024

Get on the Pathway to Passionate Philanthropy, Not Forgettable Fundraising In Part 1 I laid out why philanthropy inspires, and fundraising tires. Fundraising must be done, of course, but there’s something about how it’s too often practiced that turns too many people off. It’s the “fund” part of the word.

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Pamela Grow

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Your donors arent just names in your nonprofits CRM. The messages you send are more than fundraising appeals ; theyre opportunities to nurture relationships, share your story, and inspire action. In an age dominated by digital outreach, direct mail fundraising remains a powerful tool for nonprofits to connect with donors.

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Clairification

OCTOBER 16, 2023

The job of the smart fundraiser is inspiring passionate philanthropy to make people’s lives better. But none of us is born with a fundraising gene. And no one ever really teaches us how to write a smart fundraising appeal. The truth is writing a compelling fundraising appeal can be tricky. We copy from our predecessors.

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Clairification

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

One of the most common complaints I hear from nonprofit staff is their board won’t help with fundraising. And the most common reason is the board members tell me: “ I wasn’t told I’d have to help with fundraising, ” or even worse “ I was told I didn’t have to fundraise. Don’t put yourself in the bait and switch mode.

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Hands-On Fundraising

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Fundraising results depend on the whole organization You might know that I spent a good number of years working for regional theaters. It’s where my nonprofit career began. But over the years – whether in my first theater, where I managed the box office, or in subsequent […] The post Want better fundraising results?

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Clairification

MAY 29, 2023

Money is onl y part of the story of why fundraisers leave If you’re a fundraiser, does the following statement sound like you? Fund, half of chief development officers plan to leave their jobs in two years or less and 40% plan to leave fundraising entirely. The post Why are Good Nonprofit Fundraisers Hard to Keep?

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Year-end fundraising season is starting to get underway. However, if you just send one fundraising letter and wait for the donations to come in, prepare to be disappointed. Your fundraising campaign will be more successful if you use a combination of mail, email, social media, and phone calls. Once is not enough. Good luck!

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Fundraising Electronics Donation Media 295

Tony Martignetti

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Russell James: Quantitative Fundraising Research You can stop relying on conventional wisdom passed on through webinars and conferences. There’s a plethora of quantitative research on how to optimize storytelling to get your best fundraising outcomes. What is social emotion, how do you evoke it and why should you?

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Pass-Through Fundraising Conference Nonprofit 169

Clairification

DECEMBER 12, 2022

Yes, many nonprofits raise the lion’s share of their annual fundraising goal in the last few months of the year. Even though you’re ramping up fundraising activities this month, you can’t lose sight of your donor. The post Will Your Year-End Fundraising Be Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing?

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Fundraising Goals IT Nonprofit 322

Pamela Grow

JULY 10, 2024

What do smart fundraisers, particularly those heading up “one-person” development shops, need to know? Nonprofits have been concerned about the decreasing number of American donors for years, and the 2023 report reinforces these worries. Develop a balanced, thoughtful fundraising plan. Charitable giving in the U.S.

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Letter Of Inquiry Nonprofit Grants Grant Readiness 278

Hands-On Fundraising

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

And if you’re lucky enough to work for a nonprofit whose work you absolutely love and believe in, I’m thrilled for you. But you know your […] The post Are you caught up in “Yay Us” fundraising? appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising. First, I want you to know that I’m pulling for you.

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Fundraising Nonprofit 255

The Fundraiser Coach

JANUARY 20, 2025

In the world of major gift fundraising, relationships ought to be at the heart of the work we do. With the pressure of ever rising revenue goals, lack of full staffing, or a focus on "getting the gift," some fundraisers fall into the trap of treating donors like transactions. ” Why does transactional fundraising happen?

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Fundraising Metrics Burnout Goals 147

Pamela Grow

MARCH 6, 2024

Only to be interrupted by a notification on your phone for a new *free* webinar promising the latest in fundraising innovation (probably something AI-related). Engaging, consistent donor communications provide the engine behind your fundraising program. SOFII The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration. Ann Handley.

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Publishing Nonprofit Engineering AI 246

Clairification

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

So I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and tried to pull together the various challenges I’ve seen nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and marketers grapple with in the past year. I thought: what can people do now to set themselves up for success as we move forward into high fundraising season at the end of this coming year?

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Clairification

MARCH 18, 2024

Today I’d like to illuminate: Truths about what drives philanthropy, Challenges nonprofits have developing and implementing strategies that take these truths into account, and Suggestions for moving forward with a new paradigm to generate increased philanthropy. Why would they shed a tear? Could there be a formula to express this?

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Nonprofit Fundraising Donation Management 292

Clairification

MARCH 14, 2024

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?

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AI Nonprofit Media Software 286

Clairification

JUNE 20, 2024

I’m sure some will hate me for saying this, but after 30+ years in the nonprofit trenches and another 10+ as a coach and consultant, I’m still amazed at how small many of us think. What puzzles me is how much the nonprofit sector is itself to blame. The post Does Your Nonprofit Think Too Small? I’m going to guess “yes.”

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Tony Martignetti

AUGUST 20, 2023

Cara Augspurger: The 5 A’s Of Awesome Fundraising It’s a valuable back-to-basics conversation with a bunch of tips you’ve probably never heard. Listen to the podcast Get Nonprofit Radio insider alerts! Donorbox: Powerful fundraising features made refreshingly easy. Leading us through is Cara Augspurger from Donorbox.

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Fundraising Nonprofit 189

Clairification

MAY 8, 2023

Program staff may fear the commodification of stories as “sales products” for fundraising. The post Evolving Top Nonprofit Storytelling Practices appeared first on Clairification. And this unfair system keeps people in need in their disadvantaged state. Related to this are the ethics of making poster children of clients.

Ethics 322

Ethics Nonprofit Fundraising IT 322

Tony Martignetti

OCTOBER 22, 2023

Listen to the podcast Get Nonprofit Radio insider alerts! Donorbox: Powerful fundraising features made refreshingly … Continue reading Nonprofit Radio for October 23, 2023: The Surprising Gift Of Doubt → Marc Pitman: The Surprising Gift Of Doubt That’s Marc Pitman’s book. This originally aired on August 2, 2021.)

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Nonprofit Fundraising Goals Management 290

Clairification

JULY 18, 2024

You get a huge bang for your buck from an individual major gifts program, which costs you roughly 10 cents on the dollar vs. 50 cents or more on the dollar for special events fundraising and actually losing money on direct mail donor acquisition. Alas, there’s one area where way too many nonprofits go astray.

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Nonprofit Budget Fundraising Goals 270

Ann Green's Nonprofit

JANUARY 13, 2025

I hope 2024 was a successful year for your nonprofit organization. Your nonprofit should do the same. Have a plan in place You must have fundraising and communications/marketing plans. Go one step further and create a fundraising calendar , as well. Be sure your fundraising plan includes a diverse stream of revenue.

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Calendar Nonprofit Finance Goals 270

Clairification

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Because that would be making fundraising mostly about money. And, actually, fundraising is mostly about love. Emulate These 6 Things Matchmakers Do The post Which Song from Fiddler on the Roof Describes a Nonprofit Fundraiser’s Job? Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match! ” That’s right. So should you.

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Clairification

DECEMBER 8, 2023

You know, the one many fundraisers get around this time of year? The average nonprofit receives 26 – 30% of all donations in December. The post 14 Last-Minute Strategies to Boost Year-End Fundraising appeared first on Clairification. Too much noise! I’m curling into a fetal position until it’s over!

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Fundraising Donation IT Nonprofit 261

Clairification

MAY 9, 2024

This means your invitation to the event should incorporate the following: The post Top Proven Nonprofit Fundraising Event Planning Tips appeared first on Clairification. 4 Top Planning Tips to Invite and Ignite 1. First you want people to come.

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Fundraising Nonprofit Readiness Goals 167

Clairification

DECEMBER 1, 2022

As we enter the season of light, and you move into full-steam-ahead year-end fundraising mode, there’s something I want to remind you about your messaging. The same holds true with your nonprofit. Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…. “Oh, by the way, it’s not about you. People aren’t buying your organization.

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IT Nonprofit Education Fundraising 351

Clairification

MARCH 4, 2024

Particularly those that apply to your nonprofit work. The post Don’t Worry, Be Happy: Useful Life Advice for Nonprofit Fundraisers appeared first on Clairification. If you happen to have a NYT subscription, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading the full article. Let’s begin! Worrying about a cat stuck in a tree?

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Fundraising Nonprofit Training Management 176

Clairification

JUNE 13, 2024

Sustainable fundraising is all about donor lifetime value. Why Do Fundraisers Who Should Know Better Keep Committing These Sins? The post 5 Cardinal Sins for Nonprofit Fundraising Renewal Appeals appeared first on Clairification. And third, fourth and fifth impression.

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Fundraising Nonprofit IT 157

Wild Apricot

OCTOBER 28, 2024

Nonprofit direct mail fundraising is a great way to find new donors. Here are our best tips for making sure your campaign is a success.

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Fundraising Nonprofit 148

Clairification

JULY 29, 2024

There’s a treasure trove of knowledge and research around major gift fundraising. If I had to pick the top three practical secrets to success, they would be the following: The post 3 Nonprofit Secrets to Rock Major Gift Fundraising appeared first on Clairification. What works well. What doesn’t work at all.

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Fundraising Nonprofit 144

Clairification

MARCH 27, 2023

This also happens at nonprofits without a donor-centered culture of philanthropy. No exceptions.” — Brian Lauterbach , fundraiser, consultant, entrepreneur “Without tackling internal issues head-on, we believe the prospects for major fundraising progress are limited.

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Retail Nonprofit Consulting Consultant 285

Clairification

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Recently, fundraising copywriting and thanking guru, Lisa Sargent , posted a list of “small stuff” it’s absolutely important to sweat. Unresolved Stories Effective fundraising must be about the donor, not about you. The best story for fundraising is an incomplete one. It took me decades – decades!

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

JANUARY 11, 2024

By Anne Stefanyk Donors want to know that their contributions matter to your nonprofit. Often, nonprofits share donor stories to promote participation in planned and legacy giving programs. Often, nonprofits share donor stories to promote participation in planned and legacy giving programs. For example, The Michael J.

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Nonprofit Engineering Donation Publishing 294

Clairification

JANUARY 8, 2024

Yet too few organizations make the effort to operationalize this construct into their fundraising and marketing planning. The post 10 Strategies to Actively Build Nonprofit Donors Trust appeared first on Clairification. Trust defines the credibility and legitimacy not only of your organization, but of the entire social benefit sector.

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

AUGUST 6, 2024

If you’re doing a year-end fundraising campaign, the time to start planning it is now, hopefully in an air-conditioned space. You can also use this for fundraising campaigns at other times of the year. Be sure your donation page is user-friendly and consistent with your other fundraising materials. Do you have a campaign plan?

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Fundraising Template Donation Goals 268