Fundraising Strategy

You know the moment. Someone in the room says the words "capital campaign," and everyone suddenly looks at the table. Or your consultant mentions that most organizations your size mail six appeals a year, and you only mail two, and something in … [Read more...] about Sometimes You Need to Take a Fundraising Leap of Faith

Your development director gives notice on a Tuesday. By the end of the month she's gone, and so is most of what she knew. Which donors were close to an ask. What the board chair's wife said at the gala. The real reason that foundation program … [Read more...] about How to Build a Fundraising Program That Survives Staff Turnover

If you've been following fundraising conversations over the past few years, you've heard the pitch: monthly giving is the future. Recurring revenue is king. Build your monthly donor base and watch your fundraising problems disappear. There's … [Read more...] about How to Build a Super Successful Monthly Giving Program

I talk to a lot of development directors who feel stuck. They have ideas. They see what needs to change. They know the donor stewardship is too thin, the systems are too loose, and the follow-up is inconsistent. But they're waiting. Waiting … [Read more...] about You Don’t Need Permission to Lead Your Fundraising Program

Ask most nonprofit leaders where they focus their fundraising energy, and you'll hear some version of the same answer: "We're trying to grow our donor base, and we're building out our major gifts program." Those are both good goals. But … [Read more...] about The Nonprofit Sector Has a Mid-Level Giving Problem

There is a type of nonprofit that seems to move faster than everyone else. They launch new campaigns in weeks, not months. They test ideas before committing six figures. They make decisions in small rooms with the people closest to the work, … [Read more...] about The Nonprofit that Runs Like a Startup Will Win the Next Decade