Note: This is a follow-up to an earlier post, The Myth of Dirty Money. My goal is to demonstrate the complexity of this topic, especially in rural areas with limited resources, and discuss how nonprofits can adapt. I used to take regular work trips to Humboldt County in Northern California. With support from NorCAN, a project of the … [Read more...]
The myth of dirty money
Imagine the following… After talking with a friend who says great things about your organization, I hop on your website – and I’m impressed. Based on this friend’s referral and my bit of online homework, I pull out my credit card and donate $50. Question: Should you accept my gift? Your response: What? Are you serious? Of course … [Read more...]
Designing a complicated meeting? Use video to help clients prepare
Note: This guest post is from Allison Grappone of AGG Consulting. Thanks, Allison! I dislike wasting anyone’s time. Everyone has important things to do. In general, people need more time to themselves, away from meetings, and away from Zoom. To make better use of everybody’s time, I use videos to prime the pump before complex … [Read more...]
Help your board promote monthly giving
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...]
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 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...]
Want more major gifts? Share your impact
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...]
Six ways to save money for your nonprofit
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
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...]
The facilitator’s guide to politics and reconciliation
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...]