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Are you making this mistake? Why whining isn’t winning.

Fundraising shouldn’t be about whining. The US presidential election is next year. But the campaign is already underway. There’s a lot of fundraising happening that isn’t about charity. So when one particular appeal caught the media’s attention, I had to look. This email appeal is both entertaining (not in a good way) and educational (ditto). Have you […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor as hero, fundraising appeal

Spotlight on telefunding: what you need to know

Telefunding – what you need to know Have you considered a telefunding program? Here’s what you need to know. A while back, a reader asked me to write about telefunding. As development director, I oversaw telephone fundraising departments, but I’ve never been a caller myself. So I turned to an old friend and nonprofit telephone […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog Tagged With: donor relationships, relationship fundraising, telefunding

How to raise more money. (Hint: It’s not about you.)

How to raise more money Patting yourself on the back hurts. Jeff Brooks warned us about the dubious utility of anniversaries in fundraising. You should read it (I read Jeff’s blog every day), but the point is simple: you might care about your anniversary, but donors do not. He’s right. What seems a momentous occasion […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: anniversary appeal, annual fund goal, donor-focused

Is your fundraising a pain in the ask?

Is your fundraising a pain in the ask? I lost the good tooth lottery. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had several long and painful stays in the chairs of various dental professionals. Trust me when I say I know from root canals. So it was with an extra “ouch” that I absorbed a friend’s […]

Filed Under: Blog, Boards Tagged With: Board of directors, volunteers

You got this. Advice for a new fundraiser.

Advice for a new fundraiser I spent last weekend at my alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College. An Alumni Board member, I went for graduation (and meetings). I came home with more than that. During the weekend, I had the chance to talk with graduating seniors. Each of them is bright, talented, eager – and […]

Filed Under: Blog, Caring for yourself Tagged With: advice, donor relationships, young fundraiser

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  • 4 Tips for Crafting Emails That Boost Donor Retention
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