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Archives for June 2016

Are your donors eager to be part of the show?

By Craig ONeal (Jackson Browne) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

How’s your organization performing? My husband, son and I went to a Jackson Browne concert recently. Now, I’m about to make myself look foolish. But enjoy it and stick with me, will you? I’ve been seeing JB since high school. In fact, I’m pretty sure the three screams you can hear in the middle of […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor communications, donor love, donor relations 2 Comments

Why I still believe in mushy fundraising

There's always room for the feels

Is donor-centricity a crock? There was an interesting discussion at The Agitator last month. (I think it began with Who Gets Fired? but I can’t promise I’m right. The conversation continued over days because it’s important.) It raised a question: who’s to blame for lousy fundraising? Development staff, executive directors, consultants… we ran through the gamut. […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donors Tagged With: donor focus, donor love, donor-centric, emotional fundraising 1 Comment

How to grow a culture of philanthropy

Grow a culture!

Definitions of culture: (Miriam Webster) 5 a: the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends on upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations 5 c: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an institution or organization What’s your experience? I’ve worked in organizations where […]

Filed Under: Blog, Fundraising Tagged With: Fundraising, nonprofit management 4 Comments

Hope or fear – which powerful emotion should you use?

Balance is the key

Picture a year-end appeal. The goal isn’t met. Time is running out. Your appeal urges donors to act right away, or bad things may happen. “Can’t we keep it upbeat? You know, focus on the good stuff?” a board member will ask. “We know that’s more effective, right?” Well… I don’t think I do know […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal letters, emotional fundraising, negative messaging 2 Comments

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