If you’re a fundraiser, telling a good story is a skill you need. Why? The simplest answer is that stories – not facts – are how we make decisions. But there are lots of delicious layers to that answer. Stories are how we relate Facts – especially statistics – light up a part of our […]
Fundraising isn’t easy
Fundraising isn’t easy. And there are no magic shortcuts. My friend Ephraim reminded me of this recently. Nonprofit board members or even staff leaders suggesting fundraisers just… call Oprah. Or Bill. Or whats-his-name with the spaceship… That’s not how it works. Really. I’ve witnessed this firsthand, too. An arts organization, talking about the budget. And […]
So you want to write to donors
Here are some basic rules that I try to keep front of mind when I write to donors. Kind beats clever It’s tempting for a writer to fall in love with clever prose. We read it, we get it, we smile and nod. But if the purpose of your writing is to help people open […]
Are donors the problem with fundraising?
Are donors really the problem with fundraising? There is a concept being talked about in some fundraising circles – “donor dominance”. The idea is that some donors behave badly (true enough) and because of that, all donors must be… I’m not really sure. Educated? Chastised? Maybe just taught to understand that while we welcome their […]
What do you have to offer?
I’ve been gobbling up a series Steven Screen has been writing about your fundraising offer. Go read everything he’s been writing! This is such a critical part of any appeal you will send. Yet, it’s often overlooked. And that’s a shame because when you can work out the offer the rest of the piece is […]