Too often, fundraising begins with a dollar goal before it has a story worth telling. But donors are not motivated solely because of the dollar amounts needed to complete fundraising goals. They give because a narrative calls to them, a narrative where they see...
Why 3-Year Trends Matter More Than One-Time Gifts In fundraising, it’s tempting to celebrate when overall dollars go up. But behind every headline is a deeper truth: a few big gifts can mask donor erosion, retention challenges, and a weakening grassroots base. Thanks...
Opening Scene: The Dessert That Sparked a RelationshipOn a Sunday afternoon in March, we served dessert and poured coffee. The room was filled with laughter, ladies, stories, and a special guest, a meteorologist who also happened to be our state’s Miss America...
Donors Give Because They Feel Connected Over the years, one of my most effective donor practices was simple: a personal thank-you call followed by one question: “What prompted you to give?” Those conversations offered more perspective on donor motivation, interests,...
This post continues a three-part series exploring relationship-based philanthropy and nonprofit sustainability. While the main blog outlines the broader renewed focus toward deeper donor engagement, this piece looks more closely at major donor development, how...
Why effective sponsorships are built annually, from real assets, with clear boundariesA practical orientation for organizations new to sponsorships This article builds on the ideas introduced in Multi-Year Funding Is a Discipline — Not a Decision. While that piece...
