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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

Improve your fundraising letters fast

You can improve your fundraising letter today Here’s what I know about writing good fundraising letters: You can practice and study for years. And still, you feel like you’re only scratching the surface. There’s always something new because we’re always learning something new. So perfection will always be out of reach. But don’t let the […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, direct mail, Fundraising 14 Comments

Why “because” matters to your ask

Because is a word kids come to dread. I remember being a kid and getting a very unsatisfying answer to some questions. My questions were usually “Why?” or more often “Why not?” And the unsatisfying answer was “Because” or worse, “Because I said so.” Does that sound familiar to you? It was infuriating, of course. […]

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

Are you as tired as I am?

I’m tired. I’m not sure if it’s a response to the last few years, or if I’m just busier than usual. But lately, I’ve just been finding myself wanting to crawl under the covers and hide for a while. (With a good book, of course.) I realized, too, that my fatigue is affecting my ability […]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: creativity, Fundraising, rest Leave a Comment

What does respect mean to you?

Or… why respect should make the nonprofit world go around. I recently had the opportunity to be on the Heart of Giving podcast with Art Taylor, the President & CEO of BBB Wise Giving Alliance. It was a fun chat, all about donors and giving. I hope you’ll give it a listen. (You’ll get to […]

Filed Under: Fundraising Tagged With: Fundraising, respect 1 Comment

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