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...
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...
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,...
