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So, Hands-On Fundraising is a thing…

Just a quick mid-week post to share with you that Hands-On Fundraising, LLC is formed and ready for business. I think this is where my long nonprofit career has been pointing. It’s time to share what I’ve learned over those years. Time to reach more organizations and help them do great work. Thank you for […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising, Planning Tagged With: appeal writing, donor retention, Fundraising, nonprofit consulting 2 Comments

Use these powerful triggers to raise more money. (Though your colleagues might worry.)

These powerful triggers can raise more money. I hadn’t joined a cult. I just wanted to remember these important triggers. Last week, I wrote about the importance of emotion in your fundraising. It reminded me of the emotional triggers that raise more money. And that more than once have led to raised eyebrows. You see, […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: copywriting, donor appeals, emotional triggers 2 Comments

Trade Secrets

Do we have – or want – trade secrets in fundraising?

Is the pie limited? Are we really in fierce competition with every other nonprofit for scarce donor dollars? Or could we all learn more from each other – and translate that into better communicating our specific missions?

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Fundraising Tagged With: copywriting, experience, Red Cross, secrets, sharing, trade secrets 3 Comments

Are you faking it?

Do you ever feel like you’re faking it? Every day I’m fortunate to interact with talented people from all over the world. (Thank you, interwebz). One common thread too many of us share: a sense that perhaps we’re not quite good enough. Self-deprecation can oil social connections – but it also costs each of us […]

Filed Under: Blog, Caring for yourself, Fundraising Tagged With: confidence, imposter syndrome, learning, Nonprofit organization 7 Comments

Serve it like a pizza

Pizza and fundraising… what in the world do they have in common? There’s a small pizza place in our town. It began life as a smaller off-shoot of a chain. The pizza was ok. Mostly we went because it was conveniently close. A few weeks ago, it became obvious that the place was under new […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: Customer service, relationship fundraising 6 Comments

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