First Thing Tuesday

05 Jan Everything starts with Strategic Planning

Posted at 05:51h in Communication, Development Audit, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Foundations, Membership, Plans and Budgets, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments

If you’re like some non-profit fundraising leaders, you are busy building 2016 goals from 2015 results. We raised this much from our special event, so let’s do that again. We got this much from our membership renewals, and we’ve been increasing about 5% every year,...

29 Dec Lapsed Member Letters (and a few random thoughts for the end of the year)

Posted at 05:44h in Communication, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments

First, the early returns are in from the A/B test I conducted (See A Few Thoughts on A/B Testing) using a 4-page letter and a 1-page letter...

23 Dec Filing/Data Entry (and a few inspiring thoughts from others)

Posted at 05:12h in Communication, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments

I’m finding that there isn’t much to say that I haven’t already said many times in many ways. So here are two things, beautifully said by others, that will help make and keep your spirit bright....

15 Dec Planning for Year-End

Posted at 04:59h in Board Development, Communication, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Plans and Budgets, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments

This year, New Years is on a Friday. That means someone (you?) needs to be in the office Monday through Thursday, picking up the mail and answering the phone. Here are several other things you might plan for that week:...

08 Dec Good News

Posted at 05:08h in Communication, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments

From your solicitations to your newsletters, to your updates and thank you letters, the importance of communicating warmth, openness, and a sense of momentum is magnified during this important season of giving....

01 Dec Fall Appeal 2nd Drop (And a Few Thoughts on A/B Testing)

Posted at 05:34h in Communication, Development Audit, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments

One client, who reacted skeptically to my suggestion that he consider trusting the science and mailing a four-page appeal letter, is organizing a classic A/B test. He will write a letter that fits on a single page. I will write a letter that carries on...

24 Nov Giving Thanks

Posted at 04:18h in Communication, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Staff Development, Uncategorized 1 Comment

If you’ve managed your work well this year, you should get to spend a great deal of time between Thanksgiving and the Superbowl party writing Thank You letters. As a refresher, here’s what I suggested way back in February: Remember that your thank you...

17 Nov Fundraising Planning for 2016 – Annual Giving (Membership)

Posted at 04:38h in Donor Cultivation, Featured, Foundations, Membership, Plans and Budgets, Uncategorized 0 Comments

How much money will you raise for operations in 2016? Can you predict with any kind of accuracy? You can if you’ve been paying attention and if you follow the Steps. Here’s how: Step 1: Segregate your board members for separate consideration...

10 Nov Fundraising Planning for 2016 – Use a Planning Calendar

Posted at 04:55h in Plans and Budgets 5 Comments

Regardless, as you consider the parts and pieces of your fundraising plan for 2016, it will help you to use a calendar approach. Calendar not only the due dates, but also the work. ...

03 Nov Fundraising Planning for 2016 – I Dream of Board Fundraising

Posted at 04:39h in Board Development, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Plans and Budgets, Uncategorized 0 Comments

Your major donor cultivation work is arguably the most important work of your year. Make sure you create space on the calendar to do it well. 1) Assign donor responsibility to board members. Let them choose their own donors within reason, but make sure...