Hands-On Fundraising

Donor Communications

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

How you can use the Benjamin Franklin effect

The Benjamin Franklin effect describes how doing a favor for someone can actually make us feel more positive about that person. The phenomenon is named after Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, who wrote about the concept in his autobiography.  From The Decision Lab: While serving in the Pennsylvania Assembly, […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: donor communications, donor retention Leave a Comment

13 Quick tips for your next fundraising appeal

Do you want to write a great fundraising appeal? Here are some quick tips for you! 1. Start with a great story Find a story that illustrates the “why” of your organization. Talk to your program staff. Gather several stories and see which one is best. This won’t be the story that shows off the […]

Filed Under: Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: appeal writing, donor communications, Fundraising Leave a Comment

Can’t afford to raise money?

If your org is a sometimes presence in the lives of your donors and prospects, that’s a problem. For now, and for the future. And that means you need to spend money to make money. But while fundraisers usually understand this, it can be hard to persuade the people with the purse-strings that fundraising isn’t […]

Filed Under: Blog, Fundraising, Nonprofits Tagged With: donor care, donor communications, Fundraising

You can stop listening to excuses and raise more money

I spent many years in arts or arts-adjacent organizations. Most of that time was spent in regional theaters. Over the course of decades, I learned how marketing (subscriptions, ticket sales) and fundraising (the funds to cover the gaps in the above) could work together well – or not. I learned how to write successful appeals […]

Filed Under: Arts Fundraising Tagged With: donor communications, Donors, Fundraising

How to help people feel connected

Connected? What’s that? We’re zooming, we’re calling, we’re writing… but are we connecting? Here are some ideas to help people feel connected now. An article in Psychology Today explained the importance of feeling understood. In fact, the title was: Feeling understood is more important than feeling loved. Whoa. Maybe this is a good time to […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor communications, donor relationships

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 24
  • Next Page »

Fundraising advice served fresh to your inbox

Get yours here:

Search

Recent Posts

  • Arts Fundraising: Engage and Inspire Your Donors
  • How you can use the Benjamin Franklin effect
  • 13 Quick tips for your next fundraising appeal
  • Can’t afford to raise money?
  • You can stop listening to excuses and raise more money

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