Hands-On Fundraising

Donor Communications

  • About
  • Hands-On Fundraising Blog
  • Services
  • Contact

What community-centered fundraising means to me

Fundraising builds communities. Those communities might be based in a particular geographic area. Or they might encompass the world, but a specific interest. But the goal is the same: find the people who care a lot about the mission. Fundraising is an important way to build community. Because for many people, giving money is how […]

Filed Under: Blog, Fundraising Tagged With: community fundraising, community-centered, individual fundraising 5 Comments

Dear nonprofits: Are you simply getting less, faster?

Nonprofits are experts at making do. We pride ourselves on doing more with less. Small budgets. Smaller staff. Tight control of paper clip usage. (You’re nodding now, aren’t you? And if you aren’t, congratulations!) And there’s nothing at all wrong with being careful about how we use the money given to us. We must be […]

Filed Under: Blog, Fundraising, Nonprofits Tagged With: Fundraising, nonprofit budgets, nonprofit spending 2 Comments

What you need to know about before and after

Before and after… it’s the line between so much in a story – in all our stories. Think about your own. There are the “before I knew better” stories. The “before I met my partner” stories. The “after the kids were born” stories. The line between before and after signifies an important point in time […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: donor newsletters, fundraising appeals, thank you letters 2 Comments

Donor touches? Paper is still your best bet

Donor touches matter and paper is still your best bet. I have been seeing a lot of articles during the past year about COVID and work. Specifically, about how the pandemic has changed the way we work and the way we communicate. And honestly, how not? Organizations that were tied to an in-person environment had […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: annual giving, direct mail, donor communications 2 Comments

The birds and bees of fundraising

“Mommy, where do major donors come from?” Well, dear, it’s a very special story. And you’re old enough now for me to share it with you. It begins with a group of people. They decide to work together to make something better. To be kinder to people or animals. To make beautiful things that everyone […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donors, Fundraising Tagged With: annual giving, individual giving, major gifts Leave a Comment

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • …
  • 28
  • Next Page »

Fundraising advice served fresh to your inbox

Get yours here:

Search

Recent Posts

  • How to help people feel connected
  • Is this any way to treat a friend?
  • Size matters. But don’t be too rough on the big guys.
  • Why the things you hate make good appeals
  • DIY Donor newsletter – yes, you can

Work with me!

Let's talk about how I can help your organization raise more money.

Contact

  • Donor communications
  • Fundraising Strategy

Copyright © 2026 · Mary Cahalane · Hands-On Fundraising · 847 S. Main Street · #183 · Plantsville, CT 06479