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How to avoid the magic fundraiser trap

Magic fundraisers are why we can’t have nice things. I’m writing this on Labor Day. Maybe that’s fitting. Because while our work can feel like a labor of love, too often, expectations far exceed what one human can do. Magic fundraisers do not exist. Recently, I saw a job posting. I’m not looking, but I […]

Filed Under: Blog, Caring for yourself, Planning Tagged With: culture of philanthropy, Fundraising profressional, nonprofit organization planning 7 Comments

How to Segment New Donors for Effective Communications

Winning a new donor is always an exciting feat. Your mission has inspired yet another individual to support your cause, and that’s something to celebrate. However, once you pull in new donors, it’s time to start strategizing how to keep them around. Too few nonprofits focus on donor retention, and the numbers show it. In […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donors, Planning Tagged With: donor communications, donor relationships, donor retention 1 Comment

Your donor retention how-to

First, why does donor retention matter? Ah, donor retention. We talk about it often. But why does it matter? Acquiring new donors is hard and often expensive. (You still need to do it.) So not doing all you can to keep the donors you have is like tossing money out the window. Prioritize retention! Also… […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donors, Planning Tagged With: donor relationships, donor retention Leave a Comment

Do you want to keep last year’s donors this year?

How to keep those donors Oh, hello 2024. Yes, your year-end fundraising efforts are over. Take a deep breath. Relax. OK. Enough of that. Time for 2024 fundraising! And here’s what I want you to think most about: retention. I hope you welcomed new donors last year. And maybe even welcomed back some others. But […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Planning Tagged With: donor communications, donor relationships Leave a Comment

Your fundraising communications calendar: how to

It’s never too late to get organized and create a fundraising communications calendar One of the secrets of successful fundraising is consistency. But if your calendar is hit and miss, or “ask for money when we’re in trouble”, you need to put some structure into your plans. Creating a communication calendar is how you do […]

Filed Under: Blog, Planning Tagged With: donor communications, fundraising planning Leave a Comment

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  • How to avoid the magic fundraiser trap

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