“How Did You Do That?” A few years ago, I had coffee with a friend who was discouraged because the events she was producing were not very well attended. Leadership in her organization kept pointing back to a previous decade when participation seemed easier and...
And the simple systems strong nonprofits use to catch mistakes early One of the most overlooked challenges in nonprofit fundraising is not donor generosity. It is administrative fragmentation. The duplicate entry.The reconciliation.The spreadsheets.The disconnected...
Not a big expensive study. A disciplined way to prove what’s true. When nonprofits hear the term feasibility study, many picture a large consultant-led process with a hefty price tag. That perception alone stops organizations from asking an important question before...
Too many nonprofits begin their fundraising with a number, how much they want to raise, before they’ve even thought about why someone would give. That’s like starting a relationship with the question “Will you marry me?” on the first date. It’s functionally...
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...
