Hands-On Fundraising

Donor Communications

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

So, Hands-On Fundraising is a thing…

Just a quick mid-week post to share with you that Hands-On Fundraising, LLC is formed and ready for business. I think this is where my long nonprofit career has been pointing. It’s time to share what I’ve learned over those years. Time to reach more organizations and help them do great work. Thank you for […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising, Planning Tagged With: appeal writing, donor retention, Fundraising, nonprofit consulting

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

Are you afraid of commitment?

Or should I say, is your organization afraid? I’ve been fundraising for a long time. And commitment has always been a struggle. Getting the organization to spend time, focus, or money to grow or maintain fundraising is hard. At one time or another, I’ve been told: There’s no money for fundraising. (To hire staff, to […]

Filed Under: Blog, Planning Tagged With: commitment, Fundraising, nonprofit management, Nonprofit organization

Are you a nag?

Don’t nag your donors No one likes a nag. Recently, a friend shared a letter with me that she’d sent to an organization she really cares about. I thought what she had to say was so important I asked her to share it. She generously agreed. We usually make assumptions about what donors think, but we […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor retention, donor-focused, Fundraising

Has your donor reached her limit?

Imagine how a donor feels when she’s reached her limit “No, we can’t do that. But it’s a good idea. You should definitely offer that suggestion.” “I can’t. I’ve run out of allowed suggestions.” “Oh, well, they limit them to make it easier on them.” Had enough yet? The above was a real conversation I […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: Customer service, donor retention, Fundraising

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • …
  • 17
  • Next Page »

Fundraising advice served fresh to your inbox

Get yours here:

Search

Recent Posts

  • Build Major Donor Relationships: 5 Tips for Fundraisers
  • How to win donors by writing from your heart
  • Arts Fundraising: Engage and Inspire Your Donors
  • How you can use the Benjamin Franklin effect
  • 13 Quick tips for your next fundraising appeal

Work with me!

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

Contact

  • Donor communications
  • Fundraising Strategy

Copyright © 2026 · Mary Cahalane · Hands-On Fundraising · 847 S. Main Street · #183 · Plantsville, CT 06479