Hands-On Fundraising

Donor Communications

  • About
  • Hands-On Fundraising Blog
  • Services
  • Contact

Are you ignoring your annual fund?

Are you ignoring your annual fund? The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported: Some 77 percent of organizations with an annual fund meet total fundraising goals as compared to just 55 percent of organizations without such a fund, according to a new report on the impact of annual-fund campaigns in overall fundraising. I know you’re focused […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog Tagged With: annual giving programs, fundraising plans, individual giving 8 Comments

No fundraising plan? Don’t worry. Here’s what you can do.

No fundraising plan? So, it’s October and you still haven’t gotten around to making a plan for your fundraising through December. Yeah. You’re screwed. No, just kidding. You can still make this work. But you need to start today. Why not just wing it? Just do what you always do, right? Who has time to think […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Planning, Thanks Tagged With: appeal writing, fundraising plans, year-end plan 2 Comments

Honestly? Why you can’t raise money

Honestly? Why you can’t raise money Is your smaller organization struggling? Wondering why you can’t get out of the just-squeaking-by-every-year rut? Meet two fundraising enemies: Thinking Small and its evil twin, Wishful Thinking. Thinking Small Thinking Small works its way in disguised as pragmatism. After all, if your organization is small, you have no choice, […]

Filed Under: Blog, Planning Tagged With: Fundraising, fundraising plans, nonprofit fundraising 6 Comments

The Oprah Syndrome

I think of it as The Oprah Syndrome. And if you raise money for a nonprofit, I’m betting you’ve run into it, too. Picture this: you’re at a board meeting. The topic of discussion is a forecast deficit for the year. “What are we to do?”, the finance chair moans. Board members look around, hoping […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: Donors, fundraising plans, Oprah Winfrey, relationships, strategic planning, wishful thinking 14 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Fundraising advice served fresh to your inbox

Get yours here:

Search

Recent Posts

  • 4 Ways to Turn One-Time Donors Into Long-Term Supporters
  • Looking for attention? Why the details matter
  • This is why you can’t find a great development director
  • The new way to fundraise? Trust your mail.
  • Donor identity: How do your donors see themselves?

Work with me!

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

Contact

  • Donor communications
  • Fundraising Strategy

Copyright © 2025 · Mary Cahalane · Hands-On Fundraising · 847 S. Main Street · #183 · Plantsville, CT 06479