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Fundraising Blog Topics

Strengthen Your Fundraising Appeal With the “IPM” Formula

Here’s a very smart, efficient way to present your fundraising appeal. It forces you to be crystal clear about the three fundamental parts of any formal Ask: What impact it will make (I) What project it will fund…

strong major donor relationships are important for fundraising

Major Donor Relationship Planning: How to Tell If You Have a Close Relationship With Your Donor

Major Gift Fundraising

Major donor relationships planning can be challenging! We find that fundraisers often don't take the time to understand their donors' interests and motivations. But don't plunge into an ask until you do your homework. Do you really know…

Fundraising’s Not About Money (What???)

Asking for Donations

Fundraising's not about money - what did I say? What's more - fundraising is NOT about asking, either. Why? Because if you just focus on the money, you'll drive your donors away. In fact, if you make it all about money, you probably…

Top Takeaways from #AFPICON 2019!

Fundraising Strategy

#AFPICON is always a terrific experience - with the best minds in fundraising in the room. We all come together to learn and share the latest research, trends and strategies. Here are some of my favorite ideas that I heard and shared…

Storytelling for Board Members: How to Unleash New Energy and Commitment

Board Members & Fundraising

Storytelling for board members just might be a lost art. The fact is, most board members simply don’t know what to say when they have the opportunity to talk about their cause! Once a board member actually asked me: “If I get a…

Myths and Realities about Nonprofit Board Members and Fundraising

Board Development, Motivating Board Members

There seem to be a lot of myths when it comes to nonprofit board members and fundraising. Staff often expect that board members are supposed to raise money. But board members are not so sure of this – as you probably have experienced. It…

Fire Up Your Nonprofit Board Retreat: Turn it into a Porch Party!

Board Development, Nonprofit Leadership, Porch Party

In all our years of leading board retreats, my team and I find that some board retreats are fabulous and build energy. And others are duds and a waste of time. It all depends on careful planning and your true objectives. What do you really…

Build the Board You Need to Succeed

Board Development, Nonprofit Leadership

Board recruitment can be a challenge for many nonprofits. Here's a post from one of our consultants: Adam Hartzell, who's sharing his insights as a former executive director and leadership development expert: Board members…

Major Gift Series #9: Romancing the Ask – 6 Steps To a Perfect Major Gift Ask

Asking for Donations, Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising

Here's the last in our series of 9 topics to help you raise many generous major gifts for your cause. Fundraising always comes down to asking, doesn’t it? “The Ask” is something we study, prep for, script, dream about, love and sometimes…

Major Gifts Series #8: How to Use Moves Management To Raise Major Gifts This Year

Major Gift Fundraising

Thanks so much for hanging with me these two weeks as I share some of my deep dark secrets about major gift fundraising. We both know that major gifts are where the big funding really is. It's the most profitable place to spend your time…

Major Gift Series #7: How to Develop Friendly, Authentic Relationships with Major Donors

Fundraising Strategy, Major Gift Fundraising

Here’s #7 in my series of major gift fundraising posts to help you build up and expand your major gift revenue. I’m sharing some of my best advice to help YOU and your team bring in the major gifts that are out there for your nonprofit. Today,…

How to Engage Board Members in Major Gift Fundraising

Board Members & Fundraising, Major Gift Fundraising, Motivating Board Members

There are so many ways we can engage board members in major gift fundraising. The challenge is, exactly, deciding the best ways to try to engage them. Where, within your fundraising program, can they lend their weight and help the most? Board…

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