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Donor identity: How do your donors see themselves?

Understanding donor identity will strengthen your fundraising. My daughter graduated from Oberlin College. At the ceremony, speakers repeatedly encouraged the grads to go change the world. They were greeted with loud cheers. It was obvious that from alumni to faculty, to graduating students and their younger friends, Oberlin has a strong sense of self. It’s […]

Filed Under: Blog, Branding, Donors Tagged With: donor identity, donor retention, donor survey 2 Comments

12 human quirks you can use to fundraise better

We humans are quirky. You know fundraising is never as simple as asking for donations. Behind your ask is a world of study. We think about our language. We consider exactly what we’re asking for and why. And we keep the language clear and simple. We’re straightforward about the need and use stories to illustrate […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: donor communications, Fundraising, neuropsychology Leave a Comment

Top Recommendations for Preventing Donor Fatigue and Burnout

You think you have it all figured out—then, for seemingly no reason at all, you notice that your donations are falling. What happened? The dreaded donor fatigue spells trouble for nonprofits. It’s frustrating when it seems like your organization isn’t doing anything wrong, but you’re bleeding donors anyway. Frequently, though, this has less to do […]

Filed Under: Blog Leave a Comment

How to Write the Perfect Donor Appeal Letter to Boost Individual Giving

When writing the perfect donor appeal letter, you might not know where to start. With these tips and tricks, I hope you’ll be able to write a brilliant letter that engages donors and raises more money! Write as if they are your friend, because they are! Letters to our supporters should feel like a conversation. […]

Filed Under: Blog Leave a Comment

How to avoid the magic fundraiser trap

Magic fundraisers are why we can’t have nice things. I’m writing this on Labor Day. Maybe that’s fitting. Because while our work can feel like a labor of love, too often, expectations far exceed what one human can do. Magic fundraisers do not exist. Recently, I saw a job posting. I’m not looking, but I […]

Filed Under: Blog, Caring for yourself, Planning Tagged With: culture of philanthropy, Fundraising profressional, nonprofit organization planning 7 Comments

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Recent Posts

  • Donor identity: How do your donors see themselves?
  • 12 human quirks you can use to fundraise better
  • Top Recommendations for Preventing Donor Fatigue and Burnout
  • How to Write the Perfect Donor Appeal Letter to Boost Individual Giving
  • How to avoid the magic fundraiser trap

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