Cultivation & Communication

Nearly every non-profit uses fundraising letters to raise money.  They do that for one simple reason: fundraising letters work.  Whether you’re using a snail mail letter sent with a stamp or an e-mail sent with a “donate now!” link, chances are … [Read more...] about The 8 Things You Need to Know to Write Better Fundraising Letters

Most companies and nonprofits have mission statements.  And most of them are boring and ineffectual.  Your organization does great work, and it deserves a nonprofit mission statement that inspires, motivates, and empowers your supporters and … [Read more...] about How to Write a Nonprofit Mission Statement that Actually Works

Your non-profit newsletter is the backbone of your donor cultivation and stewardship efforts.  Though some organizations send out snail mail newsletters, most non-profits use e-mail newsletters to keep in touch with their supporters. E-mail … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Supercharge Your Non-Profit Newsletter

Your donors are the most important asset your non-profit has.   Without your donors, you can’t pay for programs, you can’t offer services, you can’t keep the lights on.  That’s why building great donor relationships is so important… without your … [Read more...] about The 5 Best Ways to Build Better Donor Relationships

Nearly every non-profit uses an annual appeal letter to raise money.  Some send out just one annual appeal letter per year, while others send out multiple letters at different times of year. No matter how many appeals you send out, it’s … [Read more...] about How to Write a Better Annual Appeal Letter for Your Non-Profit

When you’re sitting across from a donor and talking to her, you can see her reactions, so you can tell whether your message is getting through. You can tell whether she’s engaged in your cause. But in a direct mail or email appeal, it’s not … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Create a Stronger Emotional Connection with Your Donors