And why making it about you is a mistake We all do it from time to time. We fall a little in love with our own organization. Or we get a little tired of the hard work. Then we forget that good fundraising focuses on the donor and the mission. Are you making these mistakes? […]
12 ways you can thank your donors
Saying thank you is a critical part of fundraising. Sometimes, we can focus most attention on getting a gift. But great thanks are key to getting the next gift. Here are 12 ideas of how to thank your donors. 1. A prompt, personal, sincere thank you letter This is the least you should do, of […]
How to address hard truths in the era of fake news
Hard truth or fake news? (Yes, this is still a piece about fundraising and nonprofits) I watched the press conference wind to an end. At that point, the spokesperson uttered demonstrably incorrect words and walked away from the podium. Boom. The intent was obvious: my “facts” will trump your “fake news”. Obviously, our current situation […]
How to write a thank you letter that works when you’re feeling stuck
It’s the end of the year. You’ve done everything to make the most of these last few weeks. Now you have lots of thank you letters to write. But you’re feeling stuck. How can you write a thank you that works? Where do you start? Here’s my quick thank you letter how-to First, a confession: I […]
How your crummy thank you feels
Your crummy thank you feels bad Put yourself in your donor’s shoes. Sometimes saying thank you is treated as an administrative (boring) necessity. It should be an integral part of building strong donor relationships. But the really sad thing is it’s so easily fixed! Think about the little cartoon above. If your thank you letter reads […]