We are in a worldwide panic -- fear and anxiety are breeding faster than anything else. This is our call. And we need to answer the call. This means it’s time to go on a quest. Are you ready? What’s the hero’s journey? Joseph Campbell describes the beginning of the [...]
I’ve spent my entire career in fundraising and learned many lessons the hard way. Here’s 31 things I wish I had known when I was just starting out in my fundraising career: You will never make everyone happy all the time. You may be too much for some people. That’s [...]
As generators of key revenue for nonprofits, fundraisers typically feel job security. There’s always more than enough work to be done, and the sense of juggling the work of what could be spread among two or three professionals may be overwhelming, but soothing in that your role feels critical. However, [...]
During the age of COVID-19, many nonprofits, especially those that have been focused on growth, paused their fundraising strategies to deal with the results of the pandemic. Social distancing guidelines made in-person fundraising nearly impossible to do safely, and the economic downturn limited the philanthropic gifts individuals are willing to [...]
I’ve been doing it for 10 years, here’s how it works. Work from home self care is all about the BLANKET LIFE. I love wrapping my legs in a blanket and getting work done. So, it’s a scary time. And it’s more important than ever now, to take care of [...]
I don’t usually tell people this, but I lived through SARS, in Asia. I got so sick that the doctor made me stay inside for a week. I coughed so hard I cracked a rib. So, please, if you are feeling sick, stay home. Encourage your staff to stay home. [...]
A few weeks ago I was chatting with some non-profit industry peers. They were discussing their organizations’ donor journeys. A lot of similar terms came up through the conversation. Donor funnel. Donor pyramid. Donor staircase. Most of us hear these terms over and over. Many of us use them. No [...]
As we approach the end of 2019, it's the perfect time to create a list of 2020 resolutions to radically improve your fundraising efforts, raise the morale of your team, and improve your knowledge of this marvelous career as professional fundraisers! 2020 will mark the beginning of my 37th year [...]
According to a recent study by Zion Market Research, the global socks market will reach $24.16 billion by 2025. Accounting for the fact that socks aren’t exactly an expensive commodity, that number is enormous. It’s also unsurprising. Everyone needs socks. And not just because they look cool. According to Parkview [...]
Important question, fundraiser. What portion of your job is communications? Answer: more than you probably realize. After all, two very large portions of the development cycle (cultivation and stewardship) involve a lot of communications. The nature and format of these communications can vary depending on whether you work with annual [...]
For all of the content available to us this time of year, all the how-to guides and webinars about #GivingTuesday and year-end giving, none of them generally address the most important planning element to an effective fundraising campaign: A financial goal. Beyond the obvious, a goal aligns resources – people, [...]
I travel all over the country training nonprofit professionals and their boards to fundraise. It’s pretty amazing! I get to meet passionate, dedicated people just like you who are making their part of the world a better place.  Unlike most people I meet, I absolutely love fundraising.  What’s [...]