Are you part of a charity or nonprofit organization that does fundraising? If so, you understand how important it is to create a high-quality website that shares a variety of information with your audience (including potential donors). In this post, our good friend and SEO expert, Charlie Rose, shares the essential elements for a donation page that converts visitors to donors. [Read more…]
Finding the Right Nonprofit Job
I coach many fundraising professionals who are considering the next step in their career and what they really want is a job that is right for them. A job that is fulfilling, that aligns with their purpose, that challenges them, and brings out the best in them.
The journey to the right job starts with understanding your unique values, the intangibles that represent your unique essence. Your values are the compass that points you to the place where you can be true to yourself. [Read more…]
The 7 Keys For Unlocking Relationships with Donors
What is the secret to being in a relationship and creating magic? How can you improve the way you show up in relationships, and the way you connect with others?
I boarded the bus and found a seat in the last row, next to two young people who were chatting away. I sat there observing them… I was struck by their relationship. Looking at each other’s eyes, they listened to each other, sitting close together. Each one’s body posture shifted as if reflecting on the other, and their voices alternated in a kind of conversational dance. Watching them confirmed to me that there is an art to being in a relationship.
The Art of Giving, to Receive
What would it feel like if you gave to others? Imagine devoting a brief space of time each day to giving to others; being of service to them; sharing. With one important proviso: this is giving without expecting anything in return.
My day couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. A donor called me early in the morning and unexpectedly asked me out to lunch. Within moments, that magical call had me smiling from ear to ear, filling me with energy. Receiving is one of life’s great pleasures; of course we all like being on the receiving end. We like it that someone else thought of us, and made that clear with a warm and generous gesture. Nevertheless, not only does receiving depend on others; it also doesn’t last forever.
Ways to Spice up Your Next Fundraising Event
This week’s blog is by our good friend, Alizah Epstein, who is the Founder and CEO of the Epstein Creative Group. Alizah’s firm supports mission-driven organizations that improve their communities, especially those nonprofits that focus on women’s and children’s issues. In this post, Alizah shares some great insights for curing fundraising event fatigue.
10 Guidelines for Creating Corporate Sponsorship Packages
Having a marketing packet to attract your corporate sponsors is essential in helping them support your event or cause. And yet, marketing collateral alone is not enough! Sponsors need you to personally enroll them in the possibilities (and realities) that you and your organization are creating in the world. Yes, they may want to be associated with your project. More importantly, they want to be associated with you. That tandem is key.
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There are no magic formulas to make the ask
Making the ask does not follow formulas or manuals. Every case and every situation is different, and as much as you want to have a guide with every step to give, you will not find it. There are no magic formulas.
However, this is the question that many fundraisers, sellers and freelancers ask me. What do I do if …? And the truth is that this is a question that I love. They tell me, and with good reason, that the answer does not please them so much. I always tell them it depends.
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7 Excuses to Communicate With your Donors
Getting a new donor can take years; it also takes a lot of patience, persistence and resilience to keep smiling when obstacles and setbacks appear along the way.
The more confident you are, the more likely you are to clinch a deal that is a win-win for both sides. Gaining confidence means taking the time and finding a lot of reasons to connect and to create and build the relationship, co-creating a shared vision.
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Board Games (No, Not That Kind)
I currently serve on the Board of Directors for a small, early-state nonprofit called Volare Youth Leadership. My term of service is expiring in June and the Executive Director asked me to consider extending for another year. I’m in the midst of that inquiry and will have an answer by our June meeting. It’s a responsibility that I do not take lightly.
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7 Keys to Getting donors to Yes
You’ve been after a key donor for two years now. You’ve called more than 50 times and have had over 10 meetings with them, you’ve sent them over 100 emails, you’ve prepared and adapted the proposal several times, sent birthday wishes every year, and have done them a big favor. But the donor still says no. What does that feel like? Obviously, getting donors to Yes is the goal of any fundraiser.
Use the 7 keys for getting donors past “No” and to the “Yes”
