I don’t treat friends like this, do you? I’ll admit that I only open some of my mail. Like most people, I quickly sort out the bills and other “must-open” things. Then I go through the rest. One glance at the envelope is usually enough to tell me whether I want to bother opening it. […]
Size matters. But don’t be too rough on the big guys.
Size matters, right? Do you work in a smaller nonprofit? Chances are you do. In 2025, “most nonprofits are small and community-based, serving local needs: 92% spend less than $1 million annually; 88% spend less than $500,000.” (Nonprofit Impact Matters) So you probably can’t turn to a well-oiled fundraising machine to coordinate complicated campaigns that […]
Why the things you hate make good appeals
Why the things you hate make good appeals Ever seen an appeal you just hated? I mean, really hated? For most of my career, I’ve focused on annual giving – and especially on communicating with donors. I often open and look at the solicitations I receive. I usually have professional opinions on the appeals. But […]
DIY Donor newsletter – yes, you can
This post is a look way back… and directed at those of you who get by with lots of DIY. So, if a donor newsletter isn’t in your communications mix, I want to encourage you to add one. When I began fundraising, I worked for nonprofits that are on the smaller side. We needed maximum […]
Three steps you should take now to keep your donors this year
Three steps you can take to keep your donors I hope last month was a good month for you and your organization. It is for most. According to Neon, 31% of annual giving happens in December. 12% in the last three days of the year. So, with hope, I say “Congratulations!” And then: now what […]