Community events are an essential component of fundraising success. They bring your supporters together, spread valuable information about the good work your organization does on a daily basis, and give you the chance to interact with key donors face-to-face. While events tend to come with inevitable coordination challenges, the benefits they bring to your organization […]
Is your annual report a waste of a great opportunity?
It’s a serious question: what purpose does your annual report serve? What outcomes are you looking for? Too many organizations see an annual report as part requirement and part brochure. But if yours is meant to be a sales piece, is it selling? How do you know? And if reporting is a legal requirement, couldn’t […]
Why data is the key to beautiful donor relationships
Think data is dull? Too often, data isn’t given the weight it deserves in our fundraising programs. Buy the cheapest donor management system. Give data entry to the intern. Just tell me the bottom line; I don’t have to understand how to run reports. That’s a serious mistake. Because in fundraising, data isn’t the opposite […]
How to create a donor communications calendar
How well are you communicating with your donors? A communications calendar is a combination of messaging and timing. You can create the most amazing appeal letter, but if it’s the only time your donors hear from you this year, you aren’t communicating well. Or you can communicate constantly, but still miss because your channels or […]
I don’t owe you: why I’m not giving back
Makes me sound awful, doesn’t it? “What a selfish person”, you’re thinking right now. But let me explain. When you ask people to “give back” by making a gift to your organization, you’re setting up a relationship based on obligation. And transaction. Think carefully about whether that’s really what you want. Are you looking for […]