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Claire Axelrad

Claire Axelrad
Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE is a fundraising visionary with 30+ years frontline development work helping organizations raise millions in support. Her award-winning blog showcases her practical approach, which earned her the AFP “Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year” award. Claire runs “Clairification School” online, teaches the CFRE course that certifies professional fundraisers, and is a regular contributor to Guidestar, NonProfit PRO and Maximize Social Business.

Posts from Claire Axelrad

01
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Do Nonprofits Raise More Money Through Their Newsletters?
02
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Do You Calculate Your Nonprofit’s Average Dollar Retention Rate?
03
How to Upgrade Nonprofit Donors Using Suggested Donations
04
Why You Should Never Feel Bad about Asking Someone to Give
05
Donor-Centered Content Marketing Worksheet & Checklist
06
Secret Cold Email Strategies To Reach Prospective Funders
07
Best and Worst Nonprofit Coronavirus Crisis Communication Strategies
08
Why You Need Culture of Philanthropy as a Management System
09
Why You Should Move Away From Using Nonprofit Donor Personas And Toward Donor Identities
10
‘Fumes’ Strategy Provides Dependable Future Contribution Income
11
How to Use Neuroscience to Become a Strategic Nonprofit Leader
12
Should You Aggressively Promote Legacy Giving When People Are Dying?
13
[ASK AN EXPERT] Who Should Handle Congregational Giving Thank You's?
14
New Year’s Resolution: I Will Proactively Identify Major Donor Prospects
15
The Whole Major Gift Fundraising Shebang – Get Started
16
[ASK AN EXPERT] Should We Host a Major (Virtual) Donor Thank You Party?
17
4 Strategies to Tweak Major Donor Approaches to Raise More Money
18
[ASK AN EXPERT] Raising Major Gifts For Operational Expenses
19
Nonprofit Newsletters Donors Abhor
20
Fundraising Magic Tricks to Boost Year-End Response
21
How to Improve Nonprofit Fundraising Copy: Branding!
22
3 Strategies to Successfully Fundraise Mid-Pandemic
23
[ASK AN EXPERT] Is Our Major Gift Ask Too Big or Too Small?
24
Donor-Centered Digital Communications: How Do You Create a Value-for-Value Exchange?
25
Beyond End Of Year Fundraising: Keep Giving JOY
26
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Do You Persuade Boards To Scale Back Events In Favor Of More Cost-Effective Fundraising Strategies?
27
Boards Need Staff to Support Scary Fundraising Role
28
Nonprofit Giving Trends And Future Fundraising Strategy
29
[ASK AN EXPERT] What are Predictive Analytics for Planned Giving?
30
Don't Let Future Shock Happen To Your Nonprofit
31
Why Fundraisers Should Offer People An Opportunity To Give
32
How to Use the 40-40-20 Rule to Boost Your Annual Fundraising Appeal
33
Strategies to Leverage Donor Advised Fund Philanthropy
34
Top 10 Strategies to Involve Nonprofit Boards in Year-End Fundraising: Your Comprehensive Solution Kit
35
The Definitive 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists
36
Strategies To Leverage Donor Advised Fund Philanthropy: Handbook
37
Annual Fundraising Appeal: Use the 40-40-20 Rule
38
Online Approaches to Build and Sustain Donor Loyalty
39
42 Questions to Ask Major Donor Prospects Before You Ask for a Gift
40
Fundraising Success: An 18 Point Annual Appeal Checklist
41
How to Build a Donor-Centered Gift Acknowledgement Program
42
Your Donor Love and Loyalty Plan
43
Culture of Philanthropy Checklist
44
30 Easy 'Get the Visit' Major Gift Strategies
45
13 Lucky Year-End Fundraising Tips
46
[ASK AN EXPERT] What’s The Best Way To Share Tax Information With Donors?
47
Here's Why Blended Asks Should Be A Strategy In Your Fundraising Toolbox
48
Why You Should Inform Donors of These Two Giving Opportunities
49
[ASK AN EXPERT] Will Grant Funders Give To You If You Have Too Much Individual Funding?
50
It's Not Too Late: 3 Strategic Year-End Fundraising Tips
51
[ASK AN EXPERT] What's A Good New Donor Acquisition Rate?
52
Why You Should Send More End-Of-Year Fundraising Emails Than You Usually Do
53
[ASK AN EXPERT] What to Do When You’re Notified About A Legacy Gift
54
Nonprofit Monthly Giving Programs Don’t Market Themselves
55
Your Nonprofit Needs To Establish A Rainy Day Fund. Here’s Why That Is And How You Can Convince Others To Get On Board.
56
[ASK AN EXPERT] Should Your Nonprofit Invest in Digital Analytics Tools?
57
[ASK AN EXPERT] Does Sharing A Campaign’s Fundraising Goal Drive More Donations?
58
How To Help Your Board Members Overcome Their Resistance To Fundraising And Turn Them Into Effective Fundraisers
59
Will Your Nonprofit Cease to Exist? Here’s What You Can Do to Make Sure That Doesn’t Happen
60
[ASK AN EXPERT] Is There A Good Way To Raise Funds To Retire A Debt Or Pay For Something Retroactively?
61
Before Publishing Your Annual Appeal, Ask Yourself These 5 Questions
62
[ASK AN EXPERT] When Should You Go Back To In-Person Events?
63
[ASK AN EXPERT] How To Document Legacy Gift Intent
64
[ASK AN EXPERT] Is An Investment In Wealth Screening Useful Before A Capital Campaign?
65
Learn How to Guide Nonprofit Leaders Toward the Truth Instead of Letting Them Rely on Their Opinions
66
Why You Should Do A Cost-Benefit Analysis Before Throwing Your Next Nonprofit Fundraising Event
67
Giving USA 2021 Key Findings: How To Retain And Upgrade Nonprofit Donors Before Year’s End
68
[ASK AN EXPERT] Do You Have To Ask For Feedback In Person?
69
Top 2021 Fundraising Strategies: Adopting a Culture of Philanthropy
70
Top 2021 Fundraising Strategies: Mastering an Analytical Approach to Strategy and Planning
71
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Tactfully Ask for Donor Feedback without Making Promises
72
Top 2021 Fundraising Strategies: Increase Your Donor Lifetime Value
73
[ASK AN EXPERT] What To Do When Lead Development Staff Won’t Leave Their Desk
74
Top 2021 Fundraising Strategies: Mastering Relevant Content Marketing
75
Top 2021 Fundraising Strategies: Mastering Online Appeals And Messaging
76
Top 2021 Fundraising Strategies: Choosing Digital-First Options When It Comes To Fundraising And Marketing
77
4 Strategies to Increase Donor Loyalty
78
Beyond Survival: Post-Disruption Nonprofit Culture Strategy
79
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Publicly Recognize Memorial Gifts
80
Beyond Survival: Post-Disruption Nonprofit Donor Experience Strategy
81
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Engage Major Donor Prospects Who Blow Hot, then Cold
82
Beyond Survival: Post-Disruption Nonprofit Digital Strategy
83
Super Useful Nonprofit Fiscal Year-End Action Strategies
84
Strategies To Tell If Your Nonprofit Content Marketing Is Hurting Or Helping
85
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to be Appropriately Kind to In-Kind Donors?
86
How to Navigate the Post-COVID Novel Nonprofit Economy
87
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Should Donor-Advised Fund Gifts Be Recognized?
88
Who's Responsible For A Nonprofit's Culture Of Philanthropy?
89
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Organize Tasks to Stay on Top of Things
90
A Powerful Strategy to Work Smart At Your Nonprofit
91
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Negotiate a Gift of Realty with Strings Attached
92
8 Tried-And-True (Secret) Individual Donor Fundraising Action Tips
93
[ASK AN EXPERT] What is the Purpose of Publicizing Legacy Gifts?
94
How Do You Hone Your Nonprofit’s Major Donor Portfolio?
95
[ASK AN EXPERT] Who are the Best Prospects for Legacy Gifts?
96
Who Gets To Be In Your Nonprofit’s Major Donor Portfolio?
97
[ASK AN EXPERT] Should I Publicize the Amount of a Major Gift?
98
[ASK AN EXPERT] Motivating Donors to Make a Will to Leave a Bequest
99
Conscience Crisis: The Impact Of Your Nonprofit Not Living Your Values
100
Help Donors Leave Legacies: Create Philanthropic Autobiographies
101
[ASK AN EXPERT] 3 Secrets to Improve Email Campaign Opens and Click-Throughs
102
What Will A Post-COVID Nonprofit Economy Reveal?
103
Do You Have These 4 Fundraising Pre-Conditions In Place?
104
You’ve Likely Got A Problem With Your Nonprofit Mailing List
105
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Recognize Soft Credited Donors in Honor Roll Listings
106
Nonprofit Fundraisers Are In The Happiness Delivery Business
107
What Do You Do In A Period Of Philanthropy Triage?
108
[ASK AN EXPERT] What Are The Best Questions To Ask In A Donor Survey?
109
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Do I Write An Endowment Letter?
110
5 Priority Nonprofit Fundraising Strategies For 2021
111
[ASK AN EXPERT] Do Legacy Gift Societies Still Matter?
112
10 Strategies to Supercharge Annual Fundraising Success in 2021
113
Nonprofit Gratitude Strategies
114
How To Close Gifts Via Strategic Zoom Or Telephone Fundraising Appeals
115
[ASK AN EXPERT] What's a Grant Writer's Role in Setting Strategic Program Priorities?
116
Giving Tuesday: What if it was called Living Schmoozeday?
117
How To Use Your Nonprofit's Existence To Move Prospects To Donors
118
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Much of a MGO’s Time Should Be Set Aside for Special Events?
119
Don’t Stop Fundraising Because You Worry Donors Are Tapped Out
120
8 Holiday Fundraising Ideas For Socially Distanced Times
121
2 Fundraising Appeal Examples: Include Relevancy and Urgency
122
[ASK AN EXPERT] What’s a Good Ratio of Fundraising Budget to Revenue Goal?
123
How to Include Relevancy and Urgency in Your Fundraising Appeal
124
5 Secrets to Write Fruitful Fundraising Appeals
125
[ASK AN EXPERT] Are Payment Processing Fees Deductible by the Donor?
126
12 Nonprofit Strategies to Lead with Intention in Any Communication
127
Leading Your Nonprofit with Intention in Tough Times
128
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Often Should We Thank Monthly Donors, and How?
129
How Nonprofits Juggle Too Many Balls
130
Strategies to Leverage Donor Advised Fund Philanthropy - FAQs
131
[ASK AN EXPERT] Can the USPS Be Trusted for Year-End Fundraising Mail?
132
Are You Leaving Contributions on the Table because it’s a Pandemic?
133
How To Create Nonprofit Gift Acceptance Policies
134
Mid-Pandemic Fundraising Strategies Checklist: 13 Items to Move off the Back Burner
135
Future Proof Your Nonprofit Mission: Promote Legacy Giving, Even Now
136
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Can You Cultivate Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Donors?
137
Fuel Your Nonprofit's Annual Contributions Income Engine
138
Due to Current Events Your Nonprofit Has a Back Burner Problem
139
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Can Small Nonprofits Attract Business Sponsors?
140
3 Nonprofit Leadership Strategies for Crisis Situations
141
Changes in Fundraising Since Quarantine Began
142
Fundraising Mid-Pandemic: Your Honor and Responsibility
143
[ASK AN EXPERT] Should Nonprofits Send a Print or Email Newsletter?
144
How Nonprofits Can Weather An Economic Crisis
145
Rock These Outstanding Nonprofit Donor Thank You Templates
146
Secret Nonprofit Donor Thank You Advice: Always Add a Tip
147
[ASK AN EXPERT] Pros and Cons of Restricted vs. Unrestricted Giving?
148
What Do You Want to Say?
149
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Measure Donor Acquisition Costs
150
5 Action Strategies To Supercharge Crisis Fundraising Success
151
[ASK AN EXPERT] What To Do With a Controlling Board President
152
The Problem with Know-it-All Nonprofit Leadership
153
Crisis Of Confidence: Your Nonprofit’s Worst Fundraising Enemy
154
How Edginess Can Be a Nonprofit Virtue
155
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Communicate a Fundraising Event Cancellation
156
How to Let Donors Know New CARES Act Offers Deduction Opportunities
157
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Balance Your Nonprofit's Budget in a Crisis
158
Useful Nonprofit Emergency Guide: Self-Love and Donor Love Strategies
159
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Can We Convert Tickets Into Donations When Events Get Canceled?
160
To Ask or Not to Ask - Today's Nonprofit Coronavirus Question
161
Coping in a Pandemic: Essential Nonprofit Philanthropic Strategies
162
[ASK AN EXPERT] Recognizing DAF Donors
163
What’s it Like to Breathe the Air in Your Nonprofit?
164
[ASK AN EXPERT] Low Click-Through Rates on Email Campaigns
165
Donor Thank You Down and Dirty
166
[ASK AN EXPERT] How To Promote Bequest Giving
167
“They’re JUST $15 donors.” What’s Wrong Here?
168
[ASK AN EXPERT] How to Restart a Stalled Capital Campaign
169
Dear Board Member, How Do I Love Thee?
170
[ASK AN EXPERT] Calculating Donor and Donation Retention
171
Dear Donor, How Do I Love Thee?
172
[ASK AN EXPERT] Tips for EDs Hiring Their First Fundraiser
173
3 Strategies to Find a Fundraising Role for Every Board Member
174
[ASK AN EXPERT] Should We Ask Donors To Cover Donation Processing Fees?
175
Beyond End Of Year Fundraising: Give To Donors Now
176
[ASK AN EXPERT] Asking Board Members to Identify New Major Donor Prospects
177
How to Overcome Common Donor Resistance
178
Make Major Donor Resistance Your Opportunity
179
[ASK AN EXPERT] Priorities: Major vs. Mid-Level Giving?
180
New Year's Resolution: Prioritize Major Gifts, Beginning in the Donor Database!
181
[ASK AN EXPERT] What Should I Ask In A Donor Survey?
182
The Ultimate Way to Communicate with Donors
183
"Year-End" is Not a Compelling Emotional Reason to Donate
184
May The Force Be With You: Underused Year-End Fundraising Tweak
185
The How & Why Of Adding Emotion Into Your Fundraising Appeals
186
[ASK AN EXPERT] Should Our Donate Button Say "Donate"?
187
[ASK AN EXPERT] A Good Email Appeal Subject Line?
188
Asking for Stock Gifts Boosts Nonprofit Contributions
189
Loyalty vs. Capacity: Distinguishing Between Planned and Major Gift Prospects
190
Your Opportunity Knocks: Get Started with Bequest Fundraising
191
[ASK AN EXPERT] How To Please A Picky Boss?
192
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Valuable Is A Thank You Phone Call?
193
[ASK AN EXPERT] How Do I Get Co-Workers To Be Donor-Centric?
194
How to Get More People to Open Your Nonprofit Email
195
Some of the Best Nonprofit Content Marketing Options
196
Not Using Content Marketing Wisely? Your Nonprofit’s Leaving Money on the Table
197
Nonprofit Content Marketing Tightrope: Data or Story?
198
Guide + Checklist: Nonprofit Donor Retention A – Z
199
Get Started with Nonprofit Blogging: Top 10 Reasons
200
Secret to Upgrading Nonprofit Donors? Emotional Connection
201
Secret to Upgrading Nonprofit Donors? Personal, Not Personalized
202
Nonprofit Culture of Philanthropy Checklist
203
22 Social Media Influencer Strategies Nonprofits Can Use
204
Does Your Nonprofit Use Smart Calls to Action?
205
Neuroscience Meets Fundraising: Gentle Art of Teaching JOY of Giving
206
Are You Asking Nonprofit Donors to Pee in the Ocean to Raise its Level?
207
What to Make of Key Nonprofit Online Fundraising Benchmarks
208
6 Secrets to Improve Your Nonprofit Culture
209
"We Need More Money" Isn’t a Fundraising Plan
210
How to Survive an Imperfect Nonprofit Culture
211
42 Questions to Ask Major Donor Prospects Before You Ask for a Gift
212
Your Burning Questions about Nonprofit SWOT Analyses Answered
213
Donor-Centered Communications: Stop Fighting, Start Inviting
214
The Surprisingly Smartest, Donor-Centric Fundraising Strategy
215
Do You Know Your Biggest Nonprofit Marketing/Fundraising Problem?
216
Strategic Nonprofit SWOT Analysis Guide
217
How to Stop Subconsciously Sabotaging Work-Life Balance
218
Nonprofit Gala Events Worth Everyone’s Money – Part 2
219
Nonprofit Gala Events Worth Everyone’s Money – Part 1
220
Should Your Nonprofit Do an Event?
221
Time To Brainstorm A Revised Nonprofit Mission Statement?
222
Hold these 4 Fundraising Truths to Be Self Evident
223
Become the Nonprofit Leadership Change You Want to Be Using Neuroscience
224
Donor Cultivation is a Terrible Thing to Waste
225
Why Your Nonprofit Needs A Second Gift Strategy
226
8 Actionable Nonprofit Social Media Tactics
227
How To Rock Valentine's Day To Build Donor Loyalty
228
Strategies to Ensure Nonprofit Donors Don't Leave
229
How to Put Joy into Major Gift Solicitation and Philanthropy
230
How to do Major Gift Fundraising on a Shoestring
231
Major Gift Fundraising’s Most Important Fairy Tales
232
Major Gifts: The Ultimate Guide To Kickstart Your Program
233
How to Create a Successful Fundraising Email
234
Ultimate Guide to Last Minute Year-End Fundraising Strategies
235
Strategies To Retain Recently Lapsed Nonprofit Donors
236
Nonprofit Retention: All Donors Aren’t Created Equal
237
Nonprofit Donor Thank You’s: What are You Doing to Stand Out?
238
Nonprofit Donor Retention: Problems and Solutions
239
Top 10 Strategies to Involve Nonprofit Boards in Year-End Fundraising
240
5 Strategies to Set Nonprofit Boards up for Fundraising Success
241
4 Strategies to Leverage Nonprofit Board Giving to Getting
242
TOP Strategy You Need to Know about Nonprofit Board Fundraising
243
Annual Fundraising Appeal FAQ
244
18-Point Annual Fundraising Appeal Checklist
245
3 Foolproof Ways to Supercharge Year-End Donations
246
Annual Fundraising: Influence “Yes” Using Psychology and Neuroscience
247
Upgrade Nonprofit Donors Using DIY Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
248
Get Started Upgrading And Retaining More Donors Through Monthly Giving
249
Lead Your Nonprofit from Vision, Not Mission
250
How To Create Your Nonprofit Case Statement: Clarify Mission & Values
251
What’s Your Nonprofit’s Body, Heart and Soul?
252
Donor-Centered Digital Communications: How Do You Tailor the Nonprofit Experience?
253
Donor-Centered Digital Communications: How to Leverage the ‘Me-Cosystem’
254
Worthwhile Nonprofit Newsletters: Content Donors Adore
255
Donor-Centered Content Marketing Worksheet & Checklist
256
Special Event Follow-Up to Convert Guests to Loyal Donors
257
How To Create Extraordinary Nonprofit Special Event Experiences
258
WOW Special Event Moments to Convert Guests to Loyal Donors
259
There’s No Free Lunch in Fundraising: Why You Need Overhead
260
Donor Love and Loyalty Plan
261
5 Action Tips for Nonprofits to Develop and Share Helpful Content
262
Top 7 Drivers of Donor Love and Loyalty
263
Top 11 Ways to Say ‘Thank You!’ to Donors
264
The Whole Major Gift Fundraising Shebang – Rev it Up
265
The Whole Major Gift Fundraising Shebang – Basics
266
Key Donor Love Strategies to Keep Nonprofit Supporters Loyal
267
3 Secrets to Acquiring Nonprofit Legacy Gifts
268
Finding New Donors Requires Creating a New Market
269
13 Year-End Nonprofit Fundraising To-Do’s
270
Top 10 Ways To Upgrade Nonprofit Donors
271
An Annual Appeal Year-End Fundraising Timeline You Can Use
272
3 Ways to Remove Psychological Barriers to Philanthropic Giving
273
7 Little-Known Secrets That Will Get You a Visit with Your Donor
274
6 Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Take Pinterest Seriously