Category: Fundraising
-
The power of “We Believe”
Early in my tenure as an Executive Director, when people asked me “what does the Oregon League of Conservation Voters do,” I got excited and would launch into a list…
-
Being willing to be uncomfortable
This is a follow-up to an article I wrote more than a decade ago entitled: “Step Out of your Comfort Zone.” I was recently talking to a board member for…
-
More year end fundraising tips
November 24, 2025 Last November, I published a set of year-end fundraising tips. Since it was the most clicked on email article I published last year, I figured I should…
-
Needs versus budget fundraising
Another consultant recently reminded me of a concept that’s been implicit in fundraising materials I’ve generated for clients, but that I’ve never written about. The concept: the needs you present…
-
After the ask
What happens following the ask during a donor meeting. Here’s a practical guide.
-
16 tips for getting fundraising meetings – UPDATED
I originally created 12 Tips back in 2013. Here’s an expanded and updated set of 16 Tips. One of the biggest keys to successful fundraising is asking people in a…
-
Selling without Overselling
I was recently talking with a former Executive Director whose organization thrived under their leadership. I’ve been thinking a lot about one of their comments. Their comment: “In promoting their…
-
A Donor Prospect Identification Exercise
Don’t just take your board’s word for it when they say they don’t know potential major donors. Put them through an exercise.
-
On Fundraising Stories
I often talk about the importance of shifting fundraising language from a bullet-point approach to a story approach. I know that for some nonprofit leaders this is challenging because storytelling…
-
Preparing for a Likely Recession
Here are seven lessons to take into account as we head towards a likely recession in 2025.