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Are donors tired – or just tired of you?

Your donors are tired… Were they for real? I was at a meeting with a number of organizations the other day, along with some fundraising consultants. During the course of the meeting, I was surprised to hear the respected counsel suggesting that the organizations cut back on their communications and solicitations with their donors. Why? […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, communication, donor fatigue, donor retention, Donors, Fundraising

Go ahead, make me

Have you ever wanted to say “make me!” in response to an appeal? Some frequently used packages always crack me up. I know these are so common because they work – though I’m not sure how “work” is defined, especially in the long term. There’s the nickel pack. No, wait, we’re up to a dime. (I […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: annual appeals, appeal writing, donor-focused, fundraising appeals

Year-end YIKES? Keep this in mind.

Is year-end fundraising keeping you up at night? If you haven’t got your plan down for the end of the year giving season, you’re going to have to improvise. That’s when some experience can help. Like an athlete’s muscle memory, good instincts can get you through. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years. […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog Tagged With: appeal letter, thank you letters, year-end plan

Thank you. You’re wonderful.

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh Thank you. It’s the season for turkey and over-eating. But also, and much more filling, for gratitude. Gratitude has a way of resetting our outlook. It’s just about impossible to be truly […]

Filed Under: Blog, Thanks Tagged With: gratitude, thank you

Perspective

  I hope you’ll forgive me for a little story. I was pretty grumpy as I left the house that morning. I had gotten up early so I could get into the office well before anyone else. Maybe actually get something done. I pulled into Dunkin Donuts for an iced tea. (I’ll never learn to […]

Filed Under: Blog, Caring for yourself Tagged With: gratitude, homelessness, Nonprofit, social justice

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Recent Posts

  • Unlocking Beautiful Donor Relationships Through the Power of Data
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  • How to write a thank-you letter that builds relationships
  • Build Major Donor Relationships: 5 Tips for Fundraisers

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