Nancy Schwartz

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

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

  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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’re in the thick of planning for year-end giving. I bet you are putting lots of energy into targeting top prospects via your donor management software and developing strategies that will reach and resonate with your different  donor segments (e.g. your monthly donors vs. your one-time donors). This year, I urge yo… Read More