About a year ago, I became the treasurer of a well-established but tiny nonprofit. With an annual budget of less than $100,000 and limited staff, our organization is as grassroots and community-based as it gets. I’ve served on several boards. I train boards for a living. I write books about how to be an effective board member, … [Read more...]
What are “major gifts” – and where do I find them?
When talking with potential clients, I often ask the following questions: "What do you consider a major gift? How many donors contribute at that level?" The phrase "major gift" perplexes some people. If needed, I might rephrase as follows: What do you consider a big gift from an individual donor? If you skimmed off the top 10% … [Read more...]
How to create a strategic plan – a facilitator’s guide
Regardless of where you land on the preparation continuum – some of us prefer improvisation to planning – you’ll be more successful with a thoughtful, well-designed plan. You can create a strategic plan yourself or hire a consultant to help. Note to consultants: If you’re building a business, the world is filled with potential … [Read more...]
No new nonprofits! A manifesto
As a consultant, I handle a lot of inquiries – by phone, via email, and in person. For example, Can you train our board to raise money? Do you do strategic planning? We’re dealing with “founder’s syndrome” – can you advise us? Can you help with our fundraising plan? We’re considering a merger with another organization and … [Read more...]
The big (bad) shift in fundraising
A year ago, I wrote The Big Shift in Fundraising, an upbeat post about changing trends in giving. To sum it up: After decades of gradual “wealthification” of U.S. philanthropy – a greater percentage of the philanthropic pie contributed by wealthy and uber-wealthy donors – donors flipped the script in 2016. Most of the growth in giving … [Read more...]
The three most powerful words in fundraising
What gets in the way of you and your board raising more money? For a fundraising trainer like me, this is a key question. Any sort of fundraising education must address the barriers that make it difficult for people to participate. This list of common barriers won’t surprise you. Perhaps you’ve experienced them yourself. … [Read more...]
Asking Styles: Boost Your Board’s Fundraising
Note: The following guest post from Brian Saber is adapted from his new book, Asking Styles: Revolutionize Your Fundraising. Thanks, Brian! At Asking Matters, we developed Asking Styles to directly address the myth of the ideal, stereotypical fundraiser. Our model is based on the concept that authenticity is central to building … [Read more...]
Seven steps to successful event sponsorships
Today's guest post is from Joanna Hogan, the Strategic Fundraising Coach. She adds, “If you get stuck along the way, feel free to reach out to me.” Thanks, Joanna! For any conference or event planner, one of the big challenges is securing funding. Like it or not, your success with sponsorships will determine whether your conference or … [Read more...]
What’s your budget? (What, you don’t know?)
When interviewing potential clients, I always ask a basic question early in the conversation: “What’s your annual budget?” Sometimes I’m talking with staff, or it might be a board member or a volunteer. More often than not, there’s a long pause. I wait a moment, then ask again. “Last year, how much money did you raise and … [Read more...]
The unspoken truth about boards and fundraising
Does everyone on your board raise money? If the answer is “No!” – perhaps the question makes you laugh or groan or grind your teeth – you’re not alone. How do I know? By far, the most popular service I offer is board fundraising training. Because so many boards struggle to raise money, demand is endless. (Note to consultants: if you … [Read more...]
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