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If you make people cry are you a bully?

Are emotions manipulative? What about images? Is it bad if people cry? When we nonprofits tell a story that shares the needs of a beneficiary, we don’t create the tension that the donor feels. The story just reveals the internal tension the donor holds between how the world is and how they believe the world […]

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

It’s year-end fundraising time. But you’ll be OK!

My friends, it’s crunch time. Year-end fundraising is here. Somehow, without asking permission, the calendar has flipped to October. And if you’re a fundraiser, you know what that means, right? Year-end fundraising. Time to take a deep breath, center yourself, and get ready for year-end fundraising! Why is year-end so important? Here are some stats […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Fundraising Tagged With: donor communications, fundraising planning, year-end fundraising Leave a Comment

Why you’re not raising more money

Are you struggling to raise enough money? Of course, the reasons are as varied as organizations. But there are still a few things to think about that are often causing your problem. You’re not clear about your mission Can you communicate your WHY easily and in simple language? And can you explain it in a […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Fundraising Tagged With: donor care, donor communications, Fundraising Leave a Comment

What do you have to offer?

I’ve been gobbling up a series Steven Screen has been writing about your fundraising offer. Go read everything he’s been writing! This is such a critical part of any appeal you will send. Yet, it’s often overlooked. And that’s a shame because when you can work out the offer the rest of the piece is […]

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

Can fundraisers be both human and smart?

I received a lovely email from the Fundraising Everywhere folks. In it was a piece by Wayne Murray. He urged all of us in the nonprofit sector to be more human. That gets a rousing YES! From me. But then we veered from the big picture – keeping fundraising human – to tactics like font […]

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

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