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Stubborn as #$%*

Call it commitment. Or maybe, determination. Possibly, just sheer cussed stubbornness. Whatever you call it, it’s the key to a successful annual giving program. Here’s the thing: I could write a really good appeal. The data could be in great shape. The stars might all align and the message, audience, and timing could be perfect. […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog Tagged With: annual giving program, donor communications

People are people… even donors

Let’s talk about donors. We fundraisers seem to have complex feelings about donors. Are they your boss? Do you need to worry about a “savior complex”? Or are they a source from which you extract money? Are they friend or foe? People are people… and donors are people, too. To borrow from Depeche Mode, donors […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donors Tagged With: donor care, donor communications, donor relationships, donor retention

Your small fundraising team can do big things

First, a confession. I’ve been a fundraising copywriter and consultant for more than a decade now. And I’m not going back! But I do remember struggling to raise money, wearing too many hats, and dealing with leadership that just didn’t get it. Small fundraising teams can be tough. And honestly, that’s a big reason why […]

Filed Under: Blog, Fundraising Tagged With: donor communications, small fundraising team

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

How to share feelings

So last time, I wrote about communicating less with facts and more with feelings. Because giving isn’t a logical act, it’s an emotional one. And feelings are how we best connect with other people. But how do you do that? Think about communicating with one person, not an audience. If you’re focused on your audience, […]

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

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