Clairification

MAY 19, 2025

In a world filled with urgent headlines and heart-wrenching crises, its easy for fundraisers to wonder if their cause stands a chance of breaking through the noise. Especially when they’re not rescuing animals, feeding hungry people, or fighting the types of injustices leading the news cycle. But relevance isnt reserved for emergencies. THINK.

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Clairification

MAY 14, 2025

I just cant stop taking inspiration from the inimitable Seth Godin. More alternatives, please There are two ways for an artisan or professional to see the world: Scarcity. This is the idea that if there were fewer photographers, more people would hire me to do wedding pictures. That if the bar exam were more selective, it would be easier for my firm to get clients.

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Clairification

MAY 12, 2025

The results are in, and the news is generally bleak. The 2024 Fundraising Effectiveness Project Report * shows downward trends in numbers of donors (down 4.5%), and retention (down 2.6%). First-time donor retention is at its lowest-ever recorded rate. Less than one in five new donors (acquired in 2023) gave again. New donors accounted for 40% of all givers.

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Clairification

MAY 8, 2025

13 happens to be my lucky number. I want it to be lucky for you too. Today, Im going to reveal to you how you can make this happen. A survey of wills reported on by the Chronicle of Philanthropy revealed the average bequest by everyday donors is $78,630. The survey is a few years old, but as a working average this will suffice. Some people will leave less; some people will leave more.

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Clairification

MAY 5, 2025

Youve got your work cut out for you. I get lots of questions about what to include in donor surveys. But thats the wrong place to begin. First you must have clarity on why youre sending the survey. You cant bring top value to your donor survey unless youre specific about what value you want to receive and deliver. The great thing about donor surveys is theyre a genuine twofer.

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Clairification

MAY 1, 2025

Powerlessness Not a lack of power, but feeling as though we have none. Some people have been indoctrinated to prefer a life with no agency, as it also brings no responsibility. At the other extreme, some folks have decided that they have more power than they actually do. Video games offer people a chance to experience virtual poweran opportunity to feel a lack of powerlessness.

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Clairification

APRIL 28, 2025

Use of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) as a way for individuals to make charitable contributions continues to rise and grants from DAFs are becoming a growing source of income for charities of all shapes and sizes. An ever-broader group of donors are embracing them to approach philanthropy in the thoughtful, strategic way once reserved only for mega-donors who could afford to set up private foundations.

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Clairification

APRIL 24, 2025

Often, so-called best practices are merely myths, beliefs or habits. Thats how weve always done it is not a reason to continue a practice thats not evidence-based. In the Middle Ages, bloodletting was the go-to medical cure. Sometimes people got better, but that may have been in spite of the strategy rather than a causal manifestation. People really didnt question it, because medical knowledge at the time was poorly developed.

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Clairification

APRIL 21, 2025

Shifting politics are creating economic uncertainty for all, and its especially scary for U.S. nonprofits who, on average, receive about a third of their total funding from Federal grants. This means nonprofits today need toshift emphasis (and budget) toward individual donor engagement strategies. Giving USA reports 75% of all giving (lifetime + bequests) came from individuals last year.

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Clairification

APRIL 17, 2025

Today I want to remind you thatpart and parcel of your personal mission, as a philanthropy facilitator , is to bring supporters opportunities for meaning and purpose. Because when you help increase others sense of wellbeing, not only is the world a better place but these folks are more likely to demonstrate gratitude by giving of themselves. Meaning drives us to act with generosity and resolve.

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Clairification

APRIL 14, 2025

Its Tax Day April 15 th — in the U.S. No fun. Nobody likes paying taxes. Nobody likes thinking about paying taxes. Bummer. A subject most folks avoid like the plague. And thats the point. Talking about taxes is mostly bad news. It puts folks in a sour mood. It makes them want to move on and think about something else. So, why Why , oh why , oh why , oh why do nonprofits talk to donors so much about taxes?!?!

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Clairification

APRIL 10, 2025

Survival Depends on Collective Commitment and Deep Support Too often, fundraising is relegated to an administrative function rather than a mission-central function. Its viewed as a necessary evil. As a result, either no one embraces it as central to their job description, or someone is hired and shunted off to a corner to do the dirty work. Others dont necessarily feel a need to cooperate or support the fundraising effort.

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Clairification

APRIL 7, 2025

I recently received a prickly thank you letter that made my blood boil. Not because it was so bad, but because it wasnt good. It didnt make me want to renew my support. And thats unforgiveable. Because the point of the first gift is to get a second one. Otherwise, donor acquisition costs you more than you make. Its simply not worth the effort unless you commit to donor retention.

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Clairification

APRIL 3, 2025

Im hearing from many nonprofits who are feeling at sixes and sevens when it comes to planning for the uncertain year ahead. I certainly understand. The pace of change today is fast and furious, and it often feels yesterdays truth is todays untruth. Whats a sensible nonprofit to do in response? I want to make an argument for action. Rather than react, get proactive.

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Clairification

MARCH 31, 2025

Theres a lot about fundraising folks take for granted. And not in a good way. Because much of it is untrue! In fact, if you, your executive director, your board members or anyone else where you work subscribes to these fictions youll be in for a lot of pain and suffering. You wont raise near the money you could otherwise raise. And you wont enjoy your work.

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Clairification

MARCH 27, 2025

I dont usually do this, but today Im incorporating the full text of a blog by Seth Godin. Its not about philanthropy or fundraising. Or, is it? He says its about goodwill, or the lack thereof. What it costs you to lose it. I say you really should read what he says and take it to heart if you want to be sustainable over the long haul. Let me explain.

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Strategic Plan Nonprofit Goals Fundraising 111

Clairification

MARCH 20, 2025

What will you do to spring forth and meet the moment? Im counting on you each of you — to use some of the insights you glean in this weeks issue of the Clairity Click-it to be better, do better, and help others do the same. I hope, as you dig through this hand-curated content from across the web, it will make your job easier, and more fulfilling.

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Clairification

MARCH 17, 2025

Can the act of philanthropy make people feel better? I say Yes. Absolutely. Much has been written about the warm glow that comes from giving. So why not think about fundraisingas a caring act , and fundraisers (aka philanthropy facilitators )as trusted helpers and healers? Reframing fundraising in this way can be your key to: (1) committing to major individual donor fundraising (helping people to be the people they’d like to see in the mirror), and (2 ) engaging more staff, volunteers and

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Clairification

MARCH 13, 2025

Small nonprofits often face a daunting challenge: maximizing impact with limited resources. Without the brand recognition or staff of larger organizations, fundraisers at small nonprofits must wear multiple hats and juggle a variety of priorities. Spending extra time on building donor relationships or digging into donor analytics can feel like a luxury you just dont have time for.

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Clairification

MARCH 10, 2025

Legacy gifts dont fall from the sky. Legacy donors arent delivered by storks. You wont find them hiding behind cabbage leaves. Youll mostly find them living in your donor database, volunteer roster, alumni mailing list, membership roll, client files, service purchasers, and anyplace else folks connect with you and have a positive affiliation. An affiliation with you.

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Clairification

MARCH 6, 2025

These are not usual times. Are you considering how world events may impact those who rely on you. Not just beneficiaries, but donors and volunteers too. They need you to do your work, but maybe not in the usual way. Maybe theres a better way; one more fitting for the times. Heres what Seth Godin has to say: Usualing This is not a real word, but its useful nonetheless.

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Clairification

MARCH 3, 2025

How will you and your nonprofit make it through these trying times? Two words: EMPATHY. INNOVATION. These are the two qualities most needed in todays topsy-turvy world. And theyre by far the best way to connect meaningfully with your constituents. Id like you to think of them as your newly essential fundraising and communication strategies. Apply them to everything you do for the duration of this uncertain, challenging time.

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Federal Grants Nonprofit Grant Grants 144

Clairification

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

No matter your politics, this is crisis time for many nonprofits who rely on federal grants and loans (about 30% of all charities ). It’s also crisis time for the beneficiaries of many nonprofits, who are scared, stressed, depressed and otherwise at loose ends due to the rapidly changing environment. Many of the resources on which folks once relied have disappeared or are at risk.

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Federal Grants Nonprofit Readiness Fundraising 248

Clairification

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet , said Shakespeare. But, would it? Seth Godin thinks words matter. As do I. Thats just semantics Just? The meaning of the word is the reason we used the word. If we dont agree about the meaning of the word, we havent communicated. Instead of, thats just semantics, it seems more productive to say, Im confident we have a semantics problem.

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Clairification

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Its a new day. What will you do with it? Will you march forward, backward or get stuck in place? Hopefully, whatever you do, you wont be lulled into complacency. The work ahead is hard, but as James Baldwin wrote: Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. Lulled. Selfish is easy. Short term is easy. Complacent is easy.

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Clairification

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

Trust is Built By What You Do In my last article, I wrote about why establishing and building trust should be part of your nonprofit and personal mission. Because trust is the foundation of all lasting relationships. If you dont build trust, or if you somehow manage to destroy it, youre going to lose your donor. It’s an uphill battle, requiring a proactive approach.

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Nonprofit Management Fundraising IT 157

Clairification

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

The work of philanthropy facilitation is very personal. And, fundamentally, its based on trust. Which is why establishing and building trust should be part of your nonprofit and personal mission. Amid times of change, one truth remains: trust is the foundation of progress — Edelman Trust Barometer 2025 Alas, I rarely see this in mission statements.

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Ethics Nonprofit Government Media 144

Clairification

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The major gift journey is a synergistic one. You see, its both your journey and your donors journey. If you want to follow along the most direct pathway to sustainable philanthropy, youll want to consider the two-fold nature of the expeditious endeavor known as major gift fundraising. Or, as I prefer to call it, passionate philanthropy. First understand the pathway to passionate philanthropy is not just about the money; its every bit as much about the experience.

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Goals Fundraising IT 157

Clairification

JANUARY 30, 2025

When youre not aware youre making a mistake, its hard to avoid it. So lets get curious. Im going to ask you to close your eyes for a minute to imagine a donor youve been wanting to ask for a major gift. Im going to ask you to visualize a space where youre meeting. Put them in your office, their home, a caf or even a Zoom screen. Choose whats comfortable, and where you think youd be most likely to meet with this donor within the next month or so.

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Nonprofit Readiness IT Fundraising 157

Clairification

JANUARY 27, 2025

Today I want to talk about the heart of successful major gift fundraising. Its about reframing what you may think of as a pitch into what your donor would like to consider a promise. The pitch is one way. A monologue you deliver about everything you know about your organization. Usually it’s about how great it is, how pressing the need is, how you know the donor cares about your mission and, then, you drop a bomb into your donors lap with a big-ass ask they didn’t quite anticipate.

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Clairification

JANUARY 21, 2025

Learn to become an “inside” major donor rainmaker If youve got donors, you’ve got the raw material for a major donor program and its easier than you think. Begin with your own database. Most organizations have plenty of donor prospects, without having to go outside and look for prospects who arent connected to you. You know who I mean.

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IT Fundraising 167

Clairification

JANUARY 16, 2025

Nonprofits pay a lot of attention to donor acquisition. Then? They largely ignore these donors, unless They become worthy of attention by virtue of being major donors. Then? Nonprofits pay a lot of attention to major donor relationship building. But between new donor acquisition and major donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, what happens?

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Fundraising Nonprofit 144

Clairification

JANUARY 13, 2025

Everyone’s been saying this, just about daily, for some time. These arent ordinary times. If the anthem for the Boomer generation was Bob Dylan’s “ The TImes They Are A’Changin’ ,” what’s the anthem for today? History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes. Were living in the face of a firehose of breaking news, and much of it is difficult to digest.

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Fundraising Nonprofit Media IT 157

Clairification

JANUARY 2, 2025

Did you miss the most popular tips on Clairification last year? The trending topics included how to effectively leave voicemail; retention techniques; email and other campaign appeal strategy; how to communicate about things like overhead and transaction fees; philanthropic culture and board giving. The standout articles, from bottom to top, include: Countdown: Top 10 Hottest Topics on Clairification 10.

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Clairification

DECEMBER 30, 2024

For good things once a year is not enough. Why do so many of us only eat turkey once a year? Or pumpkin pie? Ive no idea! Its surely not rational. These are special foods we value and take great delight in. Yet we get into a bad habit of thinking on auto pilot. If it’s not Thanksgiving, the idea of roasting a turkey or making cranberry sauce doesn’t even enter most or our heads.

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Nonprofit IT 176

Clairification

DECEMBER 26, 2024

Lets begin with this weeks bit of wisdom Generosity and gratitude A gift doesnt diminish the giver. Sharing creates connection, possibility and energy. And the magic of gratitude is that it improves everything it touches, especially the person who offered it in the first place. So, what holds us back? Fear. Fear of connection, of change, of seeing what is possible.

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Clairification

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Confession: This is something I struggled with in my 30 years as a manager. I wanted to reward folks, but I tended to focus on things like money rather than gratitude, praise and recognition. And positive reinforcement didn’t come to me as naturally as pointing out weaknesses. I had both a boss (and a mother) who role modelled this for me. This same critical boss also told me, whenever I wanted to give someone a raise, money didn’t motivate people.

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