Are donors really the problem with fundraising? There is a concept being talked about in some fundraising circles – “donor dominance”. The idea is that some donors behave badly (true enough) and because of that, all donors must be… I’m not really sure. Educated? Chastised? Maybe just taught to understand that while we welcome their […]
Fundraising for introverts – how you can build genuine relationships
Are you an introvert? I finished the second interview of the day. I’d been gathering information to create appeals or other communications for clients. The people I spoke with were interesting and kind. I enjoyed speaking with them. And yet, I was worn out. If you understand what I mean, hello, introvert. A personality difference, […]
4 excuses for not creating a donor newsletter
You don’t have a donor newsletter? Why not? Starting a new project can be scary, I know. It’s one more thing on the to-do list. But effective donor communications, including a donor newsletter, mean better and longer donor relationships. And that means more funding. So here are some excuses – and of course, the arguments […]
Does your thank you letter really matter?
Your thank you letter matters. I recently saw an opinion that I couldn’t disagree with more. I’m paraphrasing, but it went something like this: Donors should be happy with whatever thank you letter they get. Worrying about a real signature or other things is a sign of donor dominance. I would bet that most donors […]
How Changing your Mindset Will Help You Attract New Donors
Do you want to attract new donors? When it comes to fundraising, investing in your relationship with current donors is the most important (and effective) thing to do. Just as in business, it costs five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain one. Yet every year, every nonprofit loses donors, and if […]