Everything I learned about saying “thank you” I learned from: My mother. Miss Manners. Penelope Burk. According to Burk’s research from Donor-Centered Fundraising, than 80% of thank you letters start with “Thank you for your generous gift of…” or “On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your generous gift of…” Y …| Clairification
If you want gifts, you must give them Giving is not always its own reward. Sometimes you have to help it along if you want to truly show donors they matter. Some years ago I happened upon an article by Scott Monty, offering some Father’s Day advice. It included a brilliant idea for a gift…| Clairification
When the world feels wildly out of whack, it’s time to figure out how to bring things back into some semblance of balance. Today I a proven 1-2-3 formula for nonprofit fundraising success — even when the ground underneath feels shaky. This is a time when keeping one’s balance is quite a challenge. But, if…| Clairification
Learn to become an “inside” major donor rainmaker If you’ve got donors, you’ve got the raw material for a major donor program – and it’s easier than you think. Begin with your own database. Most organizations have plenty of donor prospects, without having to go outside and lo for prospects who aren’t connected to you.…| Clairification
For good things once a year is not enough. Why do so many of us only eat turkey once a year? Or pumpkin pie? I’ve no idea! It’s surely not rational. These are special foods we value and take great ight in. Yet we get into a bad habit of thinking on auto pilot. If…| Clairification
Studies show one-fourth of all charitable giving happens in December. For some organizations (maybe yours?), it’s as much as one-third. Year-end fundraising is not chopped chicken liver! While you absolutely should be using multiple fundraising channels to get best results, right now whatever you’ve got planned for off is pretty much coed. So your best…| Clairification
The last post was about asking. Now we turn to the equally important task of thanking. Where do we go astray? Member # 83,457 Dear Friend, Oh behalf of the board of our charity, thank you so much for your gift. It means a lot and will help us continue to fulfill our mission.…| Clairification
I hear a lot of complaining about donors. They should do this: Be compliant. Not make us work so hard to please them. Treat us like we know what we’re doing. Give just because it’s the ‘right’ thing to do. They shouldn’t do that: Give any way other than ‘unrestricted.…| Clairification
What are you doing to give your donors the meaning they seek? Donor needs vary and evolve, depending on where they are in their own life cycle and their life cycle with your nonprofit. Do you ever wonder how you might help them meet their needs? How you might reward…| Clairification
Everything I learned about saying “thank you” I learned from: My mother. Miss Manners. Penelope Burk. According to Burk’s research from Donor-Centered Fundraising, than 80% of thank you letters start with “Thank you for your generous gift of…” or “On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for…| Clairification
Radiance is meant-to-be. Radiance means: To have the light within us lit To send out light To reflect back light To bounce light back and forth, in simultaneous service to ourselves and others. What if you were to view your work as allowing your own and others’ meant-to-be radiance to come forth and shine? I’m…| Clairification
Awareness alone is passive. Do you wish you had a dime for every time a nonprofit board or staff member told you “We’re the best kept secret in town; if people knew what we do, they’d give to support us.” Nonprofits tell me this all the time! If I had all those dimes, I…| Clairification
