Balancing the demands of your organization, your family and other responsibilities can make it challenging to prioritize personal wellness. Especially as nonprofit leaders, we tend to value sacrifice over our own well being, working countless hours a week and going after our goals so hard that suffering becomes seemingly noble. 😔But chasing affirmation from feeling […]
Start a Personal Wellness Plan Read More »
We all aspire to treat each donor as a valuable part of our organization regardless of their donation amounts. ✨It is part of what makes us human and not robots. We see the inherent value in each person and want to connect on a deeper level to hear the stories that make them who they
How to Be a Human Centered Organization Read More »
Are you stressed from endlessly chasing to-do lists? This week, we dive into why the relentless hustle can leave executive directors of nonprofits running on fumes and what you can do about it. 👀 Kishshana Palmer makes a much-anticipated return to the show, and this conversation is nothing short of a revelation. We explore the
Busy is a 4 Letter Word with Kishshana Palmer Read More »
If your donor list is shrinking, you are not alone. Did you think, “It must just be me?” Are you wondering what has changed? When we think back over the last couple of years since the pandemic, consumer behavior has become digitized. Donors’ response to traditional norms of fundraising cycles are being replaced with donors
How to Create Genuine Connections with Donors Read More »
Do your donor relationships feel like transactional nightmares or mutually beneficial partnerships? Post 2020, many nonprofit executive directors find themselves wrestling with dwindling donor bases, transactional relationships, and the struggle to turn one-time gifts into enduring support. The transactional approach is not only soul-sucking for your staff but also ineffective for fostering long-term donor relationships.
Why Fundraising is Broken with Allison Fine Read More »
Did you hire your interns with good intentions, seeing the eager look in their eyes that reminds you of yourself many moons ago? Then a week has passed and you’re scrambling to manage another position, trying to get them to jump from the “me” to the “we” to take ownership of their learning experience. 📅The
How to Grow Better Interns Read More »
🛑 Feeling the pinch in your fundraising efforts lately? In the evolving landscape of giving, traditional donor methods are on the decline. As fundraisers, it’s essential to prioritize deep, meaningful relationships over mere transactions. But how can we do that effectively in an era where people are more selective about where their dollars go? 🤔
Future of Fundraising with Nathan Chappell Read More »
Why does it seem like some people have a certain je ne sais quoi… for getting donors to say “yes!” while others only have the ability to repel potential donors from a mile away? I can tell you after years of fundraising trial and error that some people really do have an X factor when
Fundraising X factor? Read More »
🤪 Feeling the intern overwhelm? You’re not alone! Executive Directors of nonprofits often face the daunting task of sorting through intern candidates, training them, and deciding what tasks they can handle—balancing between busywork and overwhelming challenges. These young minds need ownership of their roles, even in a short timeframe, and directors must create guiding processes,
How to Make the Most of Your Interns with Marti Fischer Read More »
You are on fire. Your enthusiasm, your energy, your goals… they are something to aspire to. So why, when you walk into the board room, does everything get quiet and uncomfortable? 😖 Your board isn’t matching your energy, and you have to fix it fast. The truth is: Major gift fundraising is nearly impossible without
Fix your reluctant board in 3 steps Read More »
Feeling jittery about making that fundraising call? You’re not alone. Many fear the dreaded hang-up when reaching out to potential donors. But imagine turning calls from cold to gold, sparking genuine connections that open doors to vital funds. This week, I chat with the remarkable Kel Haney about turning dreaded fundraising calls into thrilling opportunities
The 5 Minute Ask with Kel Haney Read More »
As nonprofit pros, we know donors are the lifeblood of our organizations. But, they can also make us feel like pulling our hair out with their unpredictability. 😂 If you’ve ever received a random check in the mail or a surprise donation from someone you’ve never cultivated, you know what I mean. On the other
Personalized donor experiences – Hear me out… Read More »
🚀 Is your board more like a stubborn mule than a spirited stallion when it comes to fundraising? 🐴 On today’s edition of Nonprofit Lowdown, we’re diving into a burning question that keeps many of you up at night: “Why won’t my board fundraise?”😡 You’re not alone in this struggle—research shows only 41% of boards
Why Your Board Isn’t Participating in Fundraising Read More »
What would your world look like if you could never recruit a new donor? To some of us, that’s a scary thought. Because if you desperately need a constant influx of new recruits, your current pool will quickly become stagnant. The majority of donors that we find on social media, through our newsletter, or at
First-time Donor Regret Read More »
🌟 Are you wrestling with understanding what your donors really want?🌟 If you’re an executive director on the hunt for that sweet strategy that separates annual donors from major donors, pull up your comfy chair! Here’s the scoop: treating both types of donors with the same approach just isn’t cutting it. Annual and major donors
Annual Donors vs. Major Donors Read More »
Newsflash: If your current donor cultivation strategy was born out of a survival mode mindset, it may not be functioning as well as you think. That’s because the best fundraising strategies require creativity, ambition, relationships, and future-focused stewardship. And it’s really hard to be creative, ambitious, and relational when you’re trying not to die. 😵
Keep It at a Simmer Read More »
What if I told you the reason 82% of your donors never give again is because of something you’re doing? 😳 It’s true – we churn through first-time givers by failing to build real relationships and showcase impact. We leave donors confused about what their money achieved, then bombard them with more asks. Donors ghost
Why Your Donors Aren’t Giving Again Read More »
We’ve been talking a lot about AI lately. And as much as I’ve harped on this idea that it’s nothing to fear, on the other side of the spectrum, some of us in the nonprofit world feel like we’re out of the loop, slow on the uptake, or maybe even behind the curve when it
AI, the great equalizer Read More »
Executive directors, are you tired of chasing after those $20 donations like a squirrel on espresso? Yeah, me too. And let me tell you, focusing all our energy on foundation grants and corporate donations because they seem easier is a bit like preferring instant noodles over a gourmet meal—it sort of does the job, but
Can you secure a huge unrestricted major gift simply because you’re in the right headspace? Can you change your reality with a simple mindset shift? I think so. But before you throw up your anti-woo cross fingers at me, hear me out… 🙅 If you see yourself as a capable, confident fundraiser who is good
How is a fundraiser like a lobster? Read More »
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