Organizations with Boards who take personal and collective responsibility for fundraising are also stronger and more sustainable than those who don’t....
Why WOULD you want to ask someone to be on your board? Because they have: No fear in asking questions; Good listening skills; The ability to think strategically; The ability to think analytically; Good judgment; A sense of humor; and They are fully committed to...
This week, I’d like to offer an overall strategy for your membership, or annual giving campaign. Done well and consistently applied, this system has proven to build loyalty over time and raise steadily increasing funds for operations....
Q: How many times should you pester a donor?You should never (knowingly) “pester” a donor, period. The real question is this: “Where is the line between nuisance and helpful reminder?” I would answer the question this way: propose a target range for your renewal rate,...
If a major donor requests that their gift be treated as anonymous – even from the board, give the money back....
Similar to a financial audit, or an academic peer review, the Development Audit is an independent review of everything an organization is doing to raise money....
Next week is Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. Anita O’Gara and I will team up to present The Surprising Secrets of Direct Mail Success on Friday. Peter McKeever and I will present A Board for All Seasons, which we like...
Last week I wrote the first half dozen rules for writing better fundraising letters this fall. I based it in part on an excellent book that Jeff Brooks wrote several years ago that I wish I had written: A Fundraiser’s Guide to Irresistible Communications. This...
Highly Effective Fundraising Board Members: 1) Understand the goals; 2) Know the organization’s donors; 3) Interact with donors in person and over the telephone; 4) Support each other’s fundraising efforts; 5) Use personal stories; 6) Keep good records; and 7) Practice. ...
Why do we ask people who do not support the organization to assume leadership positions and serve on the board?...