16 Sep Independent Review of Development Systems Can be Helpful
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....
Board Tag
09 Sep See you at Rally!
Posted at 05:32h
in Board Development, Communication, Featured, Membership, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments
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...
26 Aug A Dozen Rules for Writing Better Fundraising Letters – Part 2
Posted at 05:51h
in Board Development, Communication, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Staff Development, Uncategorized 0 Comments
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...
22 Jul The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Fundraising Board Members
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. ...
15 Jul Is Wealth Screening Worth the Money?
BEFORE you pay for Wealth Screening, ask yourself whether you are prepared to use the information. How? Are you prepared to “cold call” the donors identified by the screen? Build relationships with them? Discover their specific interests? Ask them for money? Do you have a...
08 Jul A Surprisingly Easy Place to Find GREAT Board Members
Why do we ask people who do not support the organization to assume leadership positions and serve on the board?...
01 Jul Pocket Change
Posted at 06:42h
in Board Development, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Membership, Plans and Budgets 0 Comments
I don’t necessarily expect every board member to give $1,000, but it’s not unfair to ask. The world expects nonprofit board leaders to be among the most committed and ardent supporters of their organizations. Let’s stop settling for the ways people say “No,” and...
24 Jun On Term Limits – Take 2
If a board member is not showing signs of getting progressively more involved after the first term, they may not be asked to stay for a second. If they are unavailable or incapable of taking a leadership position with the land trust after six years,...
27 May Just go Cultivate the Donors!
Cultivation is easy to say and easy to understand. But sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do. Here’s something tangible: board members can help by becoming the conduit through which donors receive information about the land trust. Be the bearer of news. Be...
20 May But Raising Money for Programs is Easier!
Posted at 10:39h
in Board Development, Communication, Donor Cultivation, Featured, Plans and Budgets 1 Comment
Never – ever – turn an unrestricted gift, into a restricted gift. Try simply saying “Thank you” instead....