The First Commandment of Advancement: Show Don’t Tell - MarketSmart LLC
The most effective way to attract and engage new donors and raise the sights of existing ones is to draw them into the inner workings of our organizations.| MarketSmart LLC
Many job descriptions claim to be looking for a fundraiser who will be “passionate about our mission.” That’s a good start, but a good fundraiser should be passionate about much... The post Fundraisers Need to Be Passionate About More Than Mission appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
Too many fundraisers treat stewardship like the closing chapter. The thank-you note. The impact report. The ribbon-cutting ceremony. But in truth, the moment after the gift is when the real... The post Stewardship with Soul: Emotional Intelligence Beyond the Gift appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
Fundraising bosses want you to get gifts; advancement leaders want you to build partnerships. Fundraising bosses want you to solicit soon; advancement leaders want you to first elicit prospects’ passions,... The post Fundraising Boss vs. Advancement Leader appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
I worry when fundraising leaders confuse activity with advancement. Too often I hear that staff are celebrated for how many calls were made, how many visits were completed, how many... The post Activity vs. Strategic Activity: Which Works Better for Major and Legacy Gift Fundraising Operations? appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
Ever had a donor go quiet on you after a meeting that felt great? Or sat across from someone who kept scanning their phone while you told a heartfelt story?... The post One Size Doesn’t Fit All: How Emotionally Intelligent Fundraisers Adapt to Donor Styles appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
The most effective way to attract and engage new donors and raise the sights of existing ones is to draw them into the inner workings of our organizations.| MarketSmart LLC
Most people think of emotional intelligence as a tool for managing donor relationships. But some of the most critical applications happen inside your own organization. Because let’s face it—fundraising teams... The post Navigating Internal Tensions: Emotional Intelligence Inside the Fundraising Office appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
Want to know how to get under your donors’ skin? Ask them to do something small after they’ve made a big commitment, as in: “Could you also commit to the annual... The post How To Irritate Good Donors appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
This is a classic good news / bad news scenario. The good news is, we have way more pre-qualified major donor prospects than we’ve ever had before. Hooray! The bad... The post A Good Problem – What to Do If You Have Too Many Pre-qualified Major Donor Prospects appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
A donor visit isn’t just a meeting. Done well, it’s a moment of transformation—for the donor and the mission. But too often, fundraisers treat these visits like scripted pitches or... The post Donor Visits That Matter: Designing Emotionally Intelligent Conversations appeared first on MarketSmart LLC.| MarketSmart LLC
David Dunlop's original vision for moves management emphasized passion, understanding, and meaningful connections with supporters over rigid systems.| MarketSmart LLC
Bill Crouch explains why emotionally intelligent fundraisers are the best equipped to lead legacy conversations with empathy, patience, and grace.| MarketSmart LLC
Bill Crouch reflects on how presence, empathy, and meaning—not pressure—are what truly move donors and fundraisers alike.| MarketSmart LLC
Explore what it will take to secure more major gifts by building trust, engaging donors effectively, and applying strategic fundraising techniques that drive results.| MarketSmart LLC
See why traditional fundraising – including major gifts – will keep struggling if it keeps using the same strategies that worked a generation ago.| MarketSmart LLC
Emotionally intelligent fundraisers can influence donor decisions not through tactics, but through tone, energy, and presence.| MarketSmart LLC
Emotionally intelligent fundraisers inspire deeper, more lasting giving - starting with a single question: “What led you to care?”| MarketSmart LLC
