This blog is dedicated to scaling your nonprofit’s revenue.
Filter by Category:
Leading Your Nonprofit Donors Through Investment-Level Conversations
What happens when your entire team knows how to have investment-level conversations with donors? Even, your board members?
To answer this you’ll have to see the email report from my client below . . .
Donor Cultivation: Treat them like Humans!
You know where I see millions of dollars left on the table every year? Yep, millions.
Transactional fundraising. I know, we hear it a lot. There are 3 specific instances that make my hair on the back of my neck stand up!
Nonprofit Checklist - Is your fundraising team leaving money on the table?
When something’s not working in your fundraising department, how can you hunt for the right culprit?
Too often, we’re fighting to solve the symptom and not the sustainable cure.
Do you ever wish your nonprofit mission or cause could sell itself?
Do you ever wish your mission or cause could sell itself?
Seems like it should, right?
Conversations are quick and easy and should go something like this . . .
➡️ You have an amazing mission
➡️ People read your newsletter and are immediately inspired
➡️ Tears are in their eyes when you tell the stories of those you serve
➡️ And then, boom! new donor!
➡️ And even better - it’s a giant check!
I wish.
Reality is, donors . . .
Nonprofit Leaders: Donor Fatigue isn't really a thing . . .
Recently I reviewed a Fundraising Plan where the team members were instructed to list any obstacles they saw in their path that would keep them from reaching or exceeding their annual goals.
And, guess what nearly everyone on the team noted . . .
“donor fatigue”
(I can be blunt with you, right?)
If you’re a leader and you're hearing this from your team, it’s likely a skillset issue. Not a donor issue.
The biggest thing a nonprofit board member can do to raise more money . . .
You might want to sit down.
What if I told you the biggest thing a nonprofit board member can do to raise more money isn’t fundraising?
Would you believe me?
In order to grow by millions of dollars. 2X, 3X, even 5X . . . first we must make sure you’re board is on board with these concepts . . .
Are your nonprofit board members more visionary? Or more nit-picky?
I had a great introductory call with a prospective client the other day. They are a $5M organization who wants to grow their budget by millions! They even have a Strategic Planning process on the calendar for this Fall.
She asked me a great question…Does it make more sense to start our work with you before or after the Strategic Planning process. My answer . . .
Embracing Change Is The Key to Nonprofit Growth
I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts by Ramit Sethi the other day and there was a statement made that struck me.
That statement?
Most people (even if they are failing) are more comfortable with choosing the same thing over and over again as opposed to trying something new.
My answer? I agreed with it.
Visionary Leaders: What if you're met with resistance from your nonprofit board or development team?
I was chatting with a visionary leader the other day and she made a comment that saddened me. “When I present a simple opportunity or new idea to my board or even my development team, I feel like I have to fight to convince them that we can do it.”
Sound familiar?
The next time you present an idea that was unbudgeted or a new opportunity that requires an investment and you’re met with resistance from your team, you’ve got to look what’s really behind that!
The Business Behind Nonprofit Fundraising
Recently I was being interviewed by a Board of Directors and they asked what I meant by a phrase I use fairly often.
That phrase?
The business behind fundraising.
It's even the name of my podcast. Well, here's what I mean . . .
The truth about using fundraising pitch decks . . .
The other day I saw a post that read something like “A fancy pitch deck doesn't get major donors to give more money.”
Do I agree with that statement?
Ummm…only, somewhat.
Here’s why:
In the nonprofit world, so many fundraisers kinda found themselves in fundraising. You know, they came up through the program side, moved over from corporate, or were really good at writing grants and found themselves leading the department. That’s cool and frankly one of the most favorite parts of my job.
I find that fundraisers need something in hand to help them lead donors to the best gift.
In Major Gift Fundraising, Slow and Steady Wins the Race
“The race is not always to the swift.” That’s one message to come out of Aesop’s fable, The Tortoise and the Hare. We can also apply it to major gift fundraising.
There are certain aspects of fundraising that hold a sense of urgency. Planning a gala or golf tournament has a deadline. Updating your organization’s website, posting on social media, getting your email newsletter out the door are all tasks. And, true to research, it feels good to cross them off the list. You’re being productive.
Yet, if you want to grow your unrestricted revenue, nonprofit leadership needs to start making different decisions—ones that take a “slow and steady” approach to fundraising.
Nonprofit donors only want to fund projects . . . actually, that's not true.
Have you ever heard, "Donors only want to fund projects."
Actually, that’s not true.
Sure, are there some donors who will only fund projects. But it’s a small percentage of donors.
Nonprofit CEOs - If you’ve heard your fundraising team say this repeatedly, you might have a problem. Why? Because they have way more control over this than they think.