We love hearing about nonprofits’ successful fundraising strategies in action, and sharing these stories allows nonprofits to learn from each other. Nonprofits face new challenges, big and small, every day, from an international pandemic to a stubborn mid-tier donor. Learning about other organizations that overcame similar challenges will [...]
When you started your nonprofit, you likely had a core group of supporters who provided donations and funding on a regular basis. This made it very easy to reach out to each supporter individually and personalize the communication. However, as you became more well-known in the community, the list of [...]
On any given day of the week, nonprofits face multiple decisions, large and small. How do we know we’re making the right ones? The word billionaire is ubiquitously associated with certain names: Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett being two of the highest profile in the class. Aside from their immense [...]
Unfortunately, there are no “silver bullets” in fundraising. Above all else, consistency, a positive mindset, and smart strategy are the only true “secret ingredients” to sustainable fundraising efforts and success. But there are a few strategies you can use to make a major impact in terms of dollars raised with [...]
We are witnessing the rise of a new generation of donors and nonprofit employees. Brian Solis, Global Innovation Evangelist and Digital Anthropologist, calls this Generation Novel, or Gen N. This is an evolution, accelerated by the COVID pandemic and social upheaval, from what he previously called Generation Connected, or Gen [...]
Wherever there’s a problem, there will be someone trying to fix it to various degrees of success. The nonprofit sector does just that, applying itself to make things better with a can-do spirit and that tangible sense of optimism. If only optimism was enough! In reality we need the counterbalance [...]
With one and a half million tax exempt nonprofits in the United States alone, it’s not surprising that thousands of nonprofits fail each year. Forbes states fifty percent will hit the wall in the first twelve months. Other data suggests it’s less, with the National Centre For Charitable Statistics putting [...]
Today we’re going to talk about the BIG PICTURE. Because fundraising abhors a vacuum. There’s no point trying to fundraise unless you do so in service of your vision, mission and values with fundraising pre-conditions in place to help. Duh, you’re saying. Why are you stating something so obvious, you’re [...]
In uncertain times, organizations with a focus on both short and long-term revenue and resources experience less disruption of services. One way to ensure the longevity of your operation is to develop and execute a planned giving program for your organization. Giving USA reported 10% of 2019 giving in the [...]
I’m about to hit you with a big Truth Bomb: Your donors are confused during this period of philanthropy triage. The past year changed everything they thought they knew about the world – and that includes you, your nonprofit’s place in the world, and your nonprofit’s mission among their list [...]
Researchers have uncovered a key component of organizational agility, and it's not what you might expect. A study by Elaine Pulakos and Rob Kaiser published in Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research (2019) reveals stability as an essential part of agility. This finding seems counterintuitive—isn't agility all about change? Yes, [...]
When discussing legacy gifts, most assume the conversation is around bequests. Time and time again, surveys have shown that gifts given via a will are the most common planned gift vehicle. While nonprofits should absolutely be prepared to accept bequests from donors, professionals in these organizations should also be aware how [...]