Hands-On Fundraising

Donor Communications | Fundraising Strategy

  • About
  • Blog
  • Praise
  • Services
  • Contact

Fundraisers: use stories, not statistics

Fundraisers: use stories not statistics

The human mind is a wanderer by nature. The daydream is the mind’s default state. Jonathan Gottschall What do you like to read? I read a scary book recently. Dystopic, feminist, infuriating. And compelling. (Gather the Daughters, by Jennie Melamed) But it did what I look to fiction to do. It took me away, to […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor communications, fundraising appeal, storytelling 3 Comments

Watch your weenie words

Watch your weenie words

I call them weenie words. Hedges. Qualifiers. And I don’t like them. Now, I don’t think of myself as a bold person. As a kid, I was an eager follower, not the leader. I do more listening than talking, content to let someone else lead the conversation. I’m cautious. I don’t make fast decisions. But […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor communications, fundraising appeal, thank you 2 Comments

Getting grief about your year-end appeal?

Getting grief about your year-end appeal?

Here are your answers to common complaints Right now, someone in your organization, or an outside expert, is busy writing your important year-end appeal. And a lot of  other people are sharpening their red pencils. I have been responding to copy criticism for decades. And the critiques are often along the same lines, time after […]

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

Emergency fundraising: plan now for later.

Need to move fast? Plan now for later

We don’t always plan for emergencies. Of course, that’s what an emergency is – something important, but not normal. So how can you plan for emergency fundraising? If your organization finds itself struggling with the impact of coronavirus – whether in increased expenses and/or increased need for your services – you need to be able […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: emergency appeal, fundraising appeal 3 Comments

Building a better appeal, part two

Build a better appeal part 2

Last week, I wrote about your fundraising appeal and offered some steps to improve it. This week, with part two, we’ll pick up where we left off. Here’s what I want to share in both posts: Where to start The critical role emotion plays – and how to use it How to grab attention right […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor-centered fundraising, fundraising appeal Leave a Comment

Next Page »

Fundraising advice served fresh to your inbox

Get yours here:

Search

Recent Posts

  • Fundraisers: use stories, not statistics
  • So you want to change the world
  • Are you simply getting less, faster?
  • How to handle a bully
  • 5 Steps to Create a Donor Attraction Campaign

Work with me!

Let's talk about how I can help your organization raise more money.

Contact

  • Donor communications
  • Fundraising Strategy

Copyright © 2021 · Mary Cahalane · Hands-On Fundraising · P.O. Box 183 · Plantsville, CT 06479