By • September 13, 2018
As a fundraiser, who do you consider to be your most important stakeholder?
Think about it for a while.
Actually, you probably didn’t need to think about for very long at all.
You said donors, didn’t you?
Well, that’s hardly surprising. Most of fundraising’s professional practice puts donors at the heart of what fundraisers …
By • July 19, 2018
I think it is quite ironic that most nonprofits and fundraisers have so much trouble with money. The ways we consider the money we raise and the money we spend are still measured and defined by the old-fashioned rules of charitable activities. Charitable money is a gift, it is free; …
By • November 14, 2016
Major gift end of the year to dos are not the same as your annual giving big push and wrap up.
For annual giving, your focus is on the final appeal for the year, working on getting the words just right and the letter out the door. You’ve reviewed all of …
By • November 3, 2016
Sometimes it’s the simple things that transform the relationship with a donor into something magic. As part of my quest for examples of the best donor-centric fundraising for The Commission on the Donor Experience I came across an inspiring story I’d like to share with you. This is the fantastic …
By • September 29, 2016
When I introduced the Authentic Fundraiser I talked about the need for a less traditional sales approach. In this post I’m going to dig a little deeper into how “professional” fundraising professionals should be?
People have been practicing acts of philanthropy to address social needs for thousands of years. It is …
By • July 14, 2016
It’s a bit of a dance, really, isn’t it? A little pas de deux between donor and nonprofit: You take a step towards me, and I either step forward to meet you, or retreat.
For me as a donor, my conundrum is this: How far do I want to go with …
By • June 30, 2016
Look at a painting by van Gogh and you see beauty. Look at it another way and you see confusion. Yet another, and you see pain, suffering.
That was how it was last month in Vincent’s home country, the Netherlands. I was there for the European Foundation Centre’s Annual Conference in Amsterdam’s …
By • June 9, 2016
Donors like to be thanked and we like to thank donors. Don’t we? Yes, particularly if it’s cheap and quick. Let me tell you what we did. It was fairly cheap, not so quick, but rather simple. I also have some great evidence that it works for supporters. Hope and …
By • May 23, 2016
You already know the importance of asking strategic questions and listening to understand (rather than to respond or even worse not listen and only react). Having strategic conversations with your donors, helps you establish rapport, build trust, uncover essential information and share your mission and vision in an interactive and …
By • March 17, 2016
Imagine this.
You’re in a meeting with a donor. So you’ve done the hardest part already: you got the meeting. This donor really wanted to meet with you and she actually invited you to her home!
You’re in her kitchen, drinking tea and getting to know each other. You find out what …
