What if monthly giving were about more than predictable revenue? The Extended Handshake explores how recurring gifts create opportunities to know donors, strengthen relationships and invite people into a deeper connection with the mission.
Blog
The Fundraising Strategy We May Be Overlooking
What if one of your nonprofit’s greatest fundraising opportunities is already in your donor database? Strong donor relationships can lead to major gifts, deeper engagement and charitable legacies that sustain the mission for years to come.
Major Gifts: The Opportunity Already Within Reach
Nonprofits spend considerable time searching for new revenue, but one of their greatest fundraising opportunities may already be in the donor database. Major-gift fundraising begins by knowing the people who already care.
Creating Opportunities for Donor Conversations
Some of the most productive donor conversations begin with education rather than fundraising.
Topics such as estate planning, charitable giving strategies, financial literacy, or community impact often create natural opportunities for discussion because they provide value regardless of whether a donation is ever made.
August, for example, is often recognized as Make-A-Will Month. While many organizations view that observance as a planned giving opportunity, it can also serve as an opportunity to educate supporters about the importance of having a will, protecting their families, and documenting their wishes.
From Attendance to Relationship: Donor Engagement After Events
Successful programs do more than attract attendees. They create opportunities for trust, stewardship, and long-term engagement. In this final article of the Participation-First Program Design™ series, Angie Thompson explores how thoughtful follow-up, CRM systems, and relationship-building strategies help transform attendance into meaningful connection and support.
The Work Behind the Work
Successful events are rarely the result of a great speaker or strong promotion alone. Behind every meaningful audience experience are dozens of small decisions involving hospitality, room setup, pacing, operational trust, and participant comfort. In this second article of the Participation-First Program Design™ series, Angie Thompson explores the often-invisible elements that influence how people feel, engage, and connect long before a program begins.
What You Do in July Matters More Than You Think
A lesson from an early mentor taught me that success is often built during the seasons when nothing feels urgent. In this article, I share five ways nonprofit leaders can use July to strengthen relationships, prepare for year-end fundraising, and create opportunities before they become necessary.
How I Design Programs People Actually Show Up For
Drawing from years of experience producing participation-driven events across nonprofit, educational, community, and fundraising environments, I share how listening, audience behavior, emotional connection, thoughtful invitation, and intentional planning shape meaningful engagement. Successful programs rarely happen by accident but rather through carefully designed experiences that strengthen trust, deepen relationships, increase participation, and build long-term connection to the mission. This is the first in a 3-part series.
Turning Vision Into Momentum
Why good ideas need a Roadmap Every meaningful endeavor begins the same way. Someone notices something that could be better. A teacher sees potential in a student. An artist imagines a work that doesn't yet exist. A nonprofit leader recognizes a need in the community....