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Why your brain loves stories

I was in high school. It was the highly-anticipated movie event of a lifetime. None of the theaters nearby were showing it – yet. But my friends and I were determined. We located a theater 40 minutes away. But there was a problem: how would we get there? My parents couldn’t give me the car […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, donor communications, donor relationships 3 Comments

Want better fundraising results? Rethink your team

Fundraising results depend on the whole organization You might know that I spent a good number of years working for regional theaters. It’s where my nonprofit career began. And theater is still close to my heart. But over the years – whether in my first theater, where I managed the box office, or in subsequent […]

Filed Under: Arts Fundraising, Blog, Fundraising staff Tagged With: donor relationships, Fundraising Leave a Comment

You CAN write a great thank you

Does writing a thank you letter make you feel sort of squeamish? Do you put it off, because… all those feelings? Or maybe just because you don’t know where to start? I got you. Read on… Your opening paragraph As you would with any letter, keep the first paragraph short. And make it all about […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Thanks Tagged With: donor communications, donor relationships, thank you letters Leave a Comment

Do you want to keep last year’s donors this year?

How to keep those donors Oh, hello 2024. Yes, your year-end fundraising efforts are over. Take a deep breath. Relax. OK. Enough of that. Time for 2024 fundraising! And here’s what I want you to think most about: retention. I hope you welcomed new donors last year. And maybe even welcomed back some others. But […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Planning Tagged With: donor communications, donor relationships Leave a Comment

How are your conversation skills?

Conversation?! Don’t worry. You don’t have to be a great talker to have this conversation. Today I heard from an excited client about an email. (I love getting celebration emails like this!) My client is a new theater here in Connecticut. And theater is where I started my nonprofit career… so I’m having fun. We’ve […]

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

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