Note: This guest post is from Erica Waasdorp, author of a new book, Monthly Giving Made Easy. Thanks, Erica! Pandemic lesson number one: you need reliable revenue, no matter what. Your best solution is monthly giving: encouraging automatic monthly payments from your donors, typically via credit card or electronic funds transfer … [Read more...]
Holding myself accountable
One year ago, in response to the murder of George Floyd, I wrote Racism, Privilege, Training, Facilitation – and Sharing the Wealth. To become a more active, authentic ally, I made this commitment: “As I slowly wind down my business over the next few years, I will continue passing along gigs and recommending consultants. One … [Read more...]
Board president confidential
Several years ago I shared Treasurer Confidential, which described my experience as treasurer of a nonprofit board. My volunteer career has progressed and (surprise!) I’m now president of our grassroots, one-employee organization. In theory, I am well-qualified. I’ve served on multiple boards. I train boards for a living. I write books … [Read more...]
Using values to build your anti-racist fundraising program
Note: This guest post is from Laurel McCombs of the The Osborne Group. Thanks, Laurel! My colleague Bob Osborne and I have been fortunate to conduct several presentations this year on how to create an anti-racist fundraising program. As I reflect on these sessions, I want to use this post to emphasize an area that many organizations … [Read more...]
Using evaluation to “scale up” your organization
Note: This guest post is from Traci Shirachi of The Mark. Thanks, Traci! What has the pandemic revealed about your organization? Are you having a harder time maintaining and expanding the resources you need – money, staff, volunteers, focused attention – to do your work successfully? Are you overloaded with increased demand for your … [Read more...]
Consulting and COVID, Part 2: What will you keep?
In a previous post, I shared how consulting colleagues have responded to the pandemic: rethinking priorities, pivoting to new styles of work, embracing emerging opportunities. I’ve been inspired by their thoughtfulness, creativity, resilience, and commitment to justice. I asked them to reflect on what they’ll carry forward into the … [Read more...]
Consulting and COVID, Part 1: What changed?
Hey consultants! How has your work life changed over the last year? As we pass the pandemic anniversary and gradually emerge into whatever comes next, I’ve been asking peers how they’ve adapted to this new reality. Today’s post outlines changes in the world of consulting, training, facilitation, and self-employment. In the next … [Read more...]
Who is your fundraising about?
For a long time, the dominant fundraising strategy has focused on creating better donor experiences. The concept of donor-centered fundraising was popularized by Penelope Burk and others. When donors feel connected and empowered, according to this theory, they are more likely to give, give again, and give more … which raises more money … [Read more...]
Statistics and storytelling: How to turn numbers into narrative
Note: This guest post is from Dana Sanders of Osage Hill Associates. Thanks, Dana! Does the word statistics stress you out? Do you have bad memories of math class? I’m here to help. The nonprofit world is filled with data. This post outlines the methods you can use to collect data for and about your organization, and how to use what … [Read more...]
How to reduce your grant dependence
It’s striking how many people – specifically those who are new to fundraising – assume that grants are the key to success. I can’t begin to count the number of conversations in which the word “grantwriting” (I prefer “grantseeking,” because the process goes way beyond writing) is substituted for the word “fundraising.” They aren’t … [Read more...]
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