Train Your Board

(And Everyone Else) To Raise Money

Fundraising with H.E.A.R.T.

By 16 Comments

In my work as a fundraising consultant, I’ve noticed how clients tend to begin the conversation by asking about tactics and details. Typical questions: Who should sign our fundraising letters? (Board chair, executive director, development director…?) How often can we solicit our donors without annoying them? When we ask our … [Read more...]

Three tips for improving your virtual board meetings

By Leave a Comment

Note: This guest post is from consultant Alyson Molloy Hussey. Thanks, Alyson!  2020 was a challenging year for many organizations. Faced with a totally different environment, nonprofit leaders were forced to pivot, adapt, and get creative. How about you? What was your biggest adaptation over the last year? Some of these … [Read more...]

Want more major gifts? Share your impact

By Leave a Comment

Note: This guest post from Megan Amundson describes the case for more consistent donor communications that emphasize the donor’s impact. For a different (and useful) perspective, check out Community-Centric Fundraising and Nonprofit AF. When I talk with leaders of small nonprofits, they ask me how to build a major donor … [Read more...]

Using Asking Styles to train your board

By 2 Comments

Note: This guest post is from Brian Saber of Asking Matters. It’s adapted from his new book, Boards and Asking Styles: A Roadmap to Success. Thanks, Brian! For most nonprofits, board training is a challenge. And no wonder! The team meets infrequently — and can’t meet in person during the pandemic. Resources may be scarce. Furthermore, … [Read more...]

Six ways to save money for your nonprofit

By 5 Comments

Note: This guest post is from Jodi Segal of Big Change Consulting. Thanks, Jodi! Yes, raising money is hard work. As all fundraisers know, retaining your current donors is easier and more profitable than recruiting new donors. At the same time, saving money is better than spending it unnecessarily. When you stretch your dollars … [Read more...]

Using the pandemic to deepen nonprofit partnerships

By 2 Comments

Note: This guest post is from Julie Ha Truong of Leadership Savvy. Thanks, Julie! It’s difficult to remember the start of 2020, but it was a golden period. We were riding the coattails of 2019 – one of the strongest fundraising years on record. When Covid-19 hit, nonprofit leaders had to react quickly: moving programs online, … [Read more...]

“Why me?” (and other questions donors ask)

By 2 Comments

Note: This guest post is adapted from Harvey McKinnon’s book, The 11 Questions Every Donor Asks and the Answers All Donors Crave. Next month, I’m excited to be joining Harvey for a webinar on this topic… and you’re invited, too. “Me” is everyone’s favorite subject. It’s no surprise that a donor’s first question (whether spoken or … [Read more...]

The facilitator’s guide to politics and reconciliation

By 4 Comments

I’ve spent much of the last 25 years on the road, leading workshops and facilitating retreats in 47 U.S. states and across Canada. Not surprisingly, some of these gigs land during election season. This creates a variety of challenges: distractions, political tension, even the occasional argument among participants. If you’re the … [Read more...]

What’s a philanthropic advisor? How do I work with one?

By 3 Comments

Note: This guest post is from Christine Zachai of Forward Philanthropy. Thanks, Christine!  Remember when everything was going really well with your favorite major donor? You had a lunch date every year, you knew the names of the children and grandchildren, and you were strategizing together about your next request. Then … [Read more...]

©2025 TrainYourBoard.com  •  Website by Bri the Web Guy