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You can stop listening to excuses and raise more money

I spent many years in arts or arts-adjacent organizations. Most of that time was spent in regional theaters. Over the course of decades, I learned how marketing (subscriptions, ticket sales) and fundraising (the funds to cover the gaps in the above) could work together well – or not. I learned how to write successful appeals […]

Filed Under: Arts Fundraising Tagged With: donor communications, Donors, Fundraising Leave a Comment

Is this any way to treat a friend?

I don’t treat friends like this, do you? I’ll admit that I only open some of my mail. Like most people, I quickly sort out the bills and other “must-open” things. Then I go through the rest. One glance at the envelope is usually enough to tell me whether I want to bother opening it. […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal, appeal writing, donor retention, Donors, Fundraising, Mail, Nonprofit, solicitation Leave a Comment

DIY Donor newsletter – yes, you can

This post is a look way back… and directed at those of you who get by with lots of DIY. So, if a donor newsletter isn’t in your communications mix, I want to encourage you to add one. When I began fundraising, I worked for nonprofits that are on the smaller side. We needed maximum […]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: donor newsletter, Fundraising Leave a Comment

How to Build Your Own Donor-Centric Fundraising Strategy

Bloomerang’s Mission Retainable Report found that when asked why they give more than once to the same organization, 63% of surveyed donors replied that the mission or nonprofit is important to them. Overwhelmingly, donors make contributions because they are passionate about your cause for their own personal reasons. By building your fundraising approach around donors, […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising, Planning Tagged With: donor care, Fundraising Leave a Comment

Are you making it hard to give?

Are you getting between donors and your mission? With the best possible intentions, you just might be. It’s the curse of knowledge that every dedicated fundraiser develops. You know your organization’s work, inside and out. (You have to if you’re going to do a great job – so I know you do!) You understand the […]

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

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