How and When To Engage With First-Time Donors
January 4, 2018
As the year wraps up, nonprofits need to switch gears to think about how to engage their first-time donors, and recurring ones, into next year to create the optimal donor experience. Hear from one of our nonprofit industry experts, Nancy Schwartz as she shares a best-practice timeline of how and when to interact with f… Read More
Turn Up the Heat on Summer Outreach and Results
June 9, 2017
Note from the editor: Because our subscribers don’t always have the opportunity to read every post we have published on this blog (over 2,650!), we’ll be sharing some top posts to give you plenty of fundraising and marketing ideas to implement over the next few months. In this post from last June, guest bl… Read More
“People Like Us” – West End Residences’ Fundraising Success Story
March 21, 2017
When I saw the unforgettable stories and photos that West End Residences (WER) made the heart of its annual campaign, I had to learn more. West End’s short-form stories and warm photos stand out so dramatically among the avalanche of asks I receive, and I wanted share the secrets of their success with you. … Read More
6 Steps to Establishing a Photo Policy that Boosts Giving & Shows Respect
February 22, 2017
There’s no question that compelling photos are a powerful component of a successful fundraising campaign. Many organizations go further by sharing donor, volunteer, and staff photos. That’s because, “a picture may be worth MORE than a thousand words. A new study shows that text is more credible when accomp… Read More
Choose the Right Annual Report Format for YOUR Donors
January 27, 2017
When many of us hear “annual report,” we immediately think of a big book. You know what I’m talking about, a text-heavy, 12- to 24-page booklet printed on thick, glossy stock. I don’t know about you, but my eyelids are growing heavy just thinking about it. Let’s agree right now to step away from the… Read More
3 Ways Real People Can Bring Your Annual Report to Life
January 18, 2017
How Unforgettable Stories Motivate Giving & Keep Donors Close With budget and staffing challenges touching us all in some way, it’s hard not to evaluate how much time and money go into your annual report. I encourage you to consider this advice from master fundraiser Tom Ahern: “Think of your annual report as… Read More
Two Ways to Transform Your Annual Report from Dull to Dynamic
December 22, 2016
Raise your hand if your organization continues to produce your annual report the same way each year? You’re not alone. Too many organizations continue to print pricey, time-consuming reports featuring dozens of text-heavy pages. Another challenge? Many organizations shape their annual reports based on internal wants … Read More
5 Easy Ways to Boost Year-End Donations
December 15, 2016
The clock is running out on year-end fundraising. Whether you’re exceeding expectations or are barely meeting the bare minimum, you can do even better. I know what you’re thinking: “There’s so little time.” But I want to share five important adjustments you can make right now to shape your most compelling yea… Read More
Train Your Fundraising Ambassadors for Year-End Success
December 9, 2016
December is here and the pressure is on. You need all hands on deck. It’s time to call on your fundraising ambassadors. Your colleagues, board members, volunteers, and loyal donors have tremendous potential to contribute as ambassadors . All they need is a little guidance to be successful. Here are six things you can… Read More
How to Achieve a Year-End Win Without Client Photos
December 8, 2016
Question: Our last two year-end campaigns were fueled by client stories that featured a photo or two. Naturally, I planned to feature the same kind of moving, memorable profiles this year . That plan changed radically last month, when our social workers urged us to put our clients’ privacy first and stop using client… Read More