#1 Year-End Fundraising Mistake: A Weak Ask
Annual Giving, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsAre you making year-end fundraising mistakes? Too many organizations are not asking often enough. And when they do ask, they do it poorly. This is happening with far too many nonprofits. Especially smaller organizations – and some large…
#1 Tip to Snag Last-Minute Online Fundraising Gifts
Annual Giving, Year-End Fundraising Campaigns Are you hoping to snag tons of last-minute online gifts? Here's my #1 recommendation to help you raise the most money this week. There's a lot of money at play for last-minute online gifts. Many donors will be inspired by the holiday season…
Your End of Year Giving Email Subject Lines (knock them off)
Annual Giving, Year-End Fundraising Campaigns Are your fundraising email appeals ready and lined up for the last week of the year? Is your email subject line click worthy? It's not too late to tweak them and sharpen up your ask. Remember, as much as 10% of your ENTIRE ANNUAL giving…
10 Ways to Screw Up Your Year End Campaign
Annual Giving, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsThere's nothing more important this fall than your year-end fundraising effort! Everybody's ramping up to reach their annual fund targets. October thru December is the time when many nonprofits will ask for and receive most of their contributions.…
Crowdfunding Success for #GivingTuesday – 6 Key Tips
Year-End Fundraising Campaigns Are you looking for crowdfunding success? I want to officially acknowledge crowdfunding as a smart strategy that can capture new major donors and raise serious money - all in one day. And I like the idea of turning it all into a social media…
How to Create a Donor-Centered Fundraising Letter
Asking for Donations, Donor-Centered Fundraising, Year-End Fundraising Campaigns Are you wondering how to really nail a donor-centered fundraising letter? Are you trying to create a letter for your annual campaign that can grab hold of your donor's attention quickly? And do you want to write a letter that just makes…
5 Ways Board Members Can Boost Year-End Fundraising Over Goal
Board Members & Fundraising, Year-End Fundraising Campaigns Yes, your board members can boost year-end fundraising way over your goal this fall. How? There are easy jobs they can do and roles they can play --- and help meet and even exceed your fundraising goal this year. The things that board members…
Your Major Gift Donors Can Take You Well Over Your Year-End Goal
Major Gifts, Year-End Fundraising Campaigns Are you worried about meeting your year-end fundraising goal? Well, that's ok. I think a little worry is a good thing. It sure is motivating! Let's use our extra energy at this time of year to focus, focus, focus on the most productive…
Holiday Survival Guide: 5 Tips for Surviving and Enjoying the Holidays
Inspiration, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsYes, the holidays can be wild! So very much to do! Here are my own favorite tips for not only surviving but really enjoying the holidays. Your #1 Job is to Protect Your OWN Good Energy YOU are the most important person of all during these…
One Thing You Can and Must Do to Boost Your Year-End Fundraising Totals
Annual Giving, Asking for Donations, Marketing & Communications, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsJust think, 30% of your entire annual giving will occur in December. AND 10% of your entire annual giving is about to come in the door the last 3 days of this month. So do I have your attention? Who is going to get your donors' dollars? Here…
The One Mistake that Hurts Fundraising the Most
Annual Giving, Board Members & Fundraising, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsWhat is keeping you from raising the most money possible? Could it be that your own approach is holding you back? I have an idea for you - YOU might just be your own worst enemy. : ) This idea will help you make your job easier, more…
Phone Calls to Donors = Highly Profitable Fundraising
Annual Giving, Asking for Donations, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsAre you afraid of telephone fundraising? It can be scary to pick up the phone to call a donor or a potential donor! Especially when it’s so much easier to keep your polite distance and send a letter or an email solicitation. But stop a…
112 Tips to Raise More Money by Direct Mail Fundraising
Annual Giving, Asking for Donations, Marketing & Communications, Year-End Fundraising Campaigns Direct mail fundraising is a major workhorse for all nonprofits. And, yes, online giving and digital appeals are important - but donors pay far more attention to a paper letter that arrives in their mailbox. Here's a smart guide to help you…
Create a Donation Page that Rocks!
Asking for Donations, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsWhat would your donors say about your donation page? Especially here - right at the end of the year. And you are hoping, hoping, that plenty of online donations are starting to flood into your site. A recent survey found that 47% of people…
Count Your Blessings and Appreciate Your Donors at Thanksgiving
Capital Campaign, Major Gifts, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsIt's the week of Thanksgiving here in the U.S. and we are counting our blessings. As you consider what you are thankful for, perhaps you might remember your DONORS - the wonderful people who make the work of your organization possible. I think…
Dump the Cliches: Words and Phrases Fundraisers Love to Hate!
Annual Giving, Asking for Donations, Marketing & Communications, Year-End Fundraising CampaignsWow, I hit a nerve last week when I talked about my Least Favorite fundraising words. For the record, my own personal award for most disliked word goes to "underserved." I think that word is a very lame effort to describe the wonderful people…