For the last 5 or so years, there has been a trend in new donor acquisition: Response rates continue to drop while average gifts continue to rise. This means that fewer people are donating to charities, but those who do are giving larger amounts. There are a variety of theories [...]
Now more than ever, effective fundraising is what your nonprofit depends on to survive. Your team likely spends countless hours planning events and campaigns in order to raise money for programs and projects that will further your cause. All this fundraising definitely involves sending appeals to your donor base. Whether [...]
There is a secret tool behind the world of direct mail marketing. This allows organizations to completely transform their donor lists into perfectly personalized and segmented groups so that they can maximize their campaigns. That secret tool is the use of a CRM, or constituent relationship management system, and its [...]
Your nonprofit mailing list has the wrong people on it! And that’s a huge problem, because 40% of your mailing’s success depends upon your list. Another 40% is the offer, while 20% is the creative. Where do you spend your time and energy? Alas, fundraisers often leave the building of [...]
Are you finalizing your direct mail year-end appeal? Just a few simple edits could help you raise more! If your year-end appeal hasn’t gone to print or your year-end email appeals are still in the draft folder, these tips can guide you through a few last-minute changes. Your appeal letter [...]
Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE, our very own Fundraising Coach, also known as Charity Clairity. Today's question comes from a fundraiser who is worried about sending mail through the USPS right now. Dear Charity Clairity, I’m curious what others are doing [...]
Many nonprofit professionals greet annual report creation with groaning and moaning. This is because nonprofit reporting has a bad reputation. These reports considered a time suck and poor use of funding. Plus, in the aftermath of COVID-19, nonprofits like yours are forced to face and reanalyze the impact that the [...]
If your experience is anything like mine, then your direct mail appeal is probably a large source of income for your nonprofit. Or maybe you wish it was a larger source of income than it currently is. Here are four practical steps that you can take to improve your direct [...]
Year-end brings the largest flurry of direct mail within the nonprofit sector. Most charities rely on the final two months of each year to achieve more than 50% of the funding of their mission. New research confirms a course of action that can increase the results of those year-end [...]
It’s been said that there are only two guarantees in life: death and taxes. While the latter isn’t much of an issue for 501(c)(3)s, the former definitely is. […]
There seems to be as many theories regarding nonprofit direct mail as there are about the weather. No other area of today’s fundraising world has as many consultants and “experts” making their opinions known on a single subject. […]