I am currently chairing my church’s stewardship campaign. (Stewardship being another way to say “fundraising” of course.) I find myself switching hats often. Fundraising professional vs. volunteer. What I’ve learned vs. our situation. This is an all-volunteer effort, and we’re a small church. But as with so many nonprofits, we also have fixed costs that […]
3 Easy, Creative Ways to Reach Your Fundraising Goal
Maybe you have particularly ambitious goals for your next campaign, or maybe you just feel like you’re running out of ideas to motivate your base. Whatever the reason, it might be time to revamp your fundraising approach. With a little imagination, you’ll see that there are plenty of inventive ways to shake up your fundraising […]
What can you do for your donors?
Last week, I wrote about seeking feedback from your donors. One thing you might really want to learn is what you can do for your donors. Fundraisers must think about money. Your organization needs it, and you are likely being evaluated on how much you can raise. But if you put your donor hat on, […]
Donor feedback: are you listening to donors or just talking to them?
I gave a webinar a week ago with my friend, Tim Sarrantonio, about donor experience. (You can still see it here if you’re interested.) One thing we talked about was the importance of feedback. Because relationships are not one way. If your communication plan is all about pushing information at donors, you’re missing wonderful opportunities. […]
Empathy: the smart fundraiser’s superpower
Could a small change in your thinking make you a more successful fundraiser? I was reading an article about empathy and marketing the other day. It began with an example of Oxo, a company that makes household items. On the way into their office is a wall. It’s covered with lost gloves – a reminder […]