Hands-On Fundraising

Donor Communications | Fundraising Strategy

  • About
  • Blog
  • Praise
  • Services
  • Contact

Beware these pitfalls if you want to raise more money

Want to raise more money?

Indulge me, will you? There are some common words or phrases that I see in too many appeals (and annual reports or even thank you letters) that set my teeth on edge. You’ll find me, almost daily, sorting my mail and shaking my head. So here, for your amusement or education, are a few.   […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor appeals, donor care, donor focus 3 Comments

Why it’s smart to love your donors for who they are

Love your donors

Are we letting a few verbs stand in the way of better solicitations? I read an article in the New York Times about the U.S.’s struggles with low voter turnout. One point made was that an experiment showed identity mattered more than action. In a pair of experiments, psychologists reframed voting decisions by appealing to […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor appeals, donor retention, neuropsychology 1 Comment

Are you using the magic fundraising word?

Magic fundraising?

Fundraising magic? You’ve heard it before: a magic word that will transform your fundraising. You. So you dutifully make sure that word is everywhere. But maybe it doesn’t do as much magic as you’d expected. You is magic, but there’s more to it than that. Donor-focused writing matters Of course, it does. No one is […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor appeals, donor as hero, donor focus 1 Comment

How hard are you making it to give?

Don't frustrate potential donors

  Giving shouldn’t be so confusing. The other day as we paid our bills, my husband and I pulled an appeal from our pile to make a donation. Then we turned the response form over and over, trying to figure out what to do. It was a combination return envelope and form. But to mail […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: direct mail appeals, donor appeals, donor frustration Leave a Comment

How to heal an unappealing fundraising appeal

Is your fundraising appeal hurting?

  I don’t know why, but I continue to be surprised at major nonprofits – that have the means to do it right – mailing out solicitations that miss. We got one the other day, from a large hospital in our state. I’ll admit, I opened it with some curiosity. I was hoping I might […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor acquisition, donor appeals, writing for donors 5 Comments

Next Page »

Fundraising advice served fresh to your inbox

Get yours here:

Search

Recent Posts

  • How to use awe to raise more money
  • Can you feel it? How you can use the power of metaphor
  • The birds and bees of fundraising
  • In defense of GivingTuesday
  • Getting Your Board on Board for a Capital Campaign

Work with me!

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

Contact

  • Donor communications
  • Fundraising Strategy

Copyright © 2021 · Mary Cahalane · Hands-On Fundraising · P.O. Box 183 · Plantsville, CT 06479