ARP Brings Public Funding Opportunities Like Never Before

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Today we are highlighting the special public funding opportunity from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). You may know that the ARP, passed by Congress earlier this year, provides funds to help communities recover from the pandemic. This…

What Can Go Wrong with a Capital Campaign in a Pandemic?

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You might be planning a campaign for 2021, or you may be in a major campaign right now. What can go wrong? Capital campaigns, as we all know, are huge undertakings. They are full of risks, rewards and mega gifts, too. And sometimes capital…
How Will We Cultivate Donors This Fall?

How Will We Cultivate Donors This Fall?

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“Cultivate donors.” I bet you’ve heard that before.  But how do we accomplish this in the virtual environment?  We like to think of cultivation as nurturing your donor’s philanthropic interest in your organization’s work. And…

Listening – The #1 Skill for Virtual Phone or Zoom Meetings

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Everyone needs to sharpen their listening skills for fundraising in the new virtual environment. Dealing with donors is more difficult these days. Many of us can't get in front of our donors - so we are on zoom or on the phone. Everyone is…

The Awful Truth About Many Major Gift Shops – They’ve Gotten Lazy

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We are wondering - do you think that traditional major gift fundraising may have gotten a bit lazy? I think the answer is yes. I think that the way we've been nurturing and engaging our major donors has not been very effective. Kathryn Gamble…

Building Donor Relationships in a Virtual World

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Building virtual donor relationships is quite a challenge for many of us. For example, people are already suffering from Zoom Fatigue. Are you? What's worse - we also hear that some exhausted donors are backing off from video visits. We…

How and When to Hold a Virtual Gala This Summer with Sherry Truhlar

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Are you planning a virtual gala or fundraising event this year? If so, there are many decisions to make: when, how, where, what format, what technology, etc? Sherry Truhlar of Red Apple Auctions - our go-to fundraising event expert - is…

The New Three-Part Fundraising Ask for Times of Crisis

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It's time to shape up your fundraising ask. Successful nonprofits are approaching donors differently these days - with a different type of ask. It's much, much more personal, authentic, and quite transparent about money. Unusually…

Save Your Fundraising Team’s Jobs: Have a Numbers-Based Fundraising Plan!

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Many nonprofits are laying off fundraising staffers these days in order to save money.  Are your team's jobs in jeopardy? Here's how to save your fundraising budget - and jobs - from the chopping block. Here's a post from our fundraising…

Three Things Your CFO Needs to Know About Fundraising

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1 Fundraising is predictable. 2. Fundraising is built on relationships with people who are donors.  3. Donors are not ATMs. Right now, our fundraising community is feeling tremendous pressure and getting many conflicting messages.  Where…

Major Gifts: How to Succeed in the Current Crisis

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In the middle of this unprecedented crisis, we are receiving all sorts of questions about fundraising.  We are pleased to share this post by Senior Consultant Dr. Kathryn Gamble And one question is on everyone's minds these days -…

Take Heart: Donors Are Still Giving to All Sorts of Causes

Should you be actively fundraising right now? Yes or no? If you are a no – then you have company. Many organizations are officially holding off on gift conversations or asks, even if their donors are ready have a gift discussion. We…

Nonprofit Board Members: Leadership Tips for Uncertain Times

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  As a nonprofit board member, you have much to deal with right now, as you might in any time of crisis. It’s a tough position to be in, because board membership carries a lot of responsibility. The board is the legal authority…

Fundraising Action Plan for Crisis Response

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Fundraising in times of crisis is a delicate task. And, for many organizations, the need for seeking financial help has never been more urgent. Your organization may be facing a critical situation and you need to let your stakeholders know. Do…

If You Have to Cancel Your Event Because of Coronavirus

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Life has changed suddenly for us when the pandemic broke out. On top of anxiety about the coronavirus, nonprofits have to deal with cancelled fundraising events. I’ve chatted with fundraisers this week who are having to cancel events that…

Coronavirus and Fundraising: What to Expect and How to Prepare

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One of the major issues on everyone’s mind today is the coronavirus outbreak. Many people are worried and uncertain about what to expect. Smart nonprofits are concerned how all this uncertainty will impact fundraising. Nervous donors are…