Hands-On Fundraising

MAY 20, 2025

How hard are you making it to give? Seriously, giving shouldn’t be so confusing. The other day as we paid our bills, my husband and I pulled an appeal from our pile to make a donation. Then we turned the response form over and over, trying to figure out what to do. I’m a professional… […] The post How hard are you making it to give?

IT

Hands-On Fundraising

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Why is it so hard to say thank you? We spend a lot of time thinking about how to raise more money. We labor over the appeal: the language, the images, the right ask. And then, too often, we treat the thank you as an afterthought. It’s not that hard to write a good, emotional […] The post Why is it so damned hard to say thank you? appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

IT

Hands-On Fundraising

JUNE 10, 2025

As fundraisers, we work hard to find and recruit new donors to our causes. But do you ever feel like your supporters are slipping away after their first gift? There could be a whole host of reasons for this. From a supporter not feeling properly thanked, to a lack of charity brand recall (“I loved […] The post How to Create a Seamless Supporter Journey (and Build Loyal Donors for Life) appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

APRIL 29, 2025

My mailbox leaves me wondering. We’ve all been reading a lot about donor retention. Maybe so much talk it’s in danger of becoming just another buzzword. But I think it’s critically important. And I’ve seen how powerful a really engaged donor base can be. Organizations benefit from more support, sure. But there’s also something about […] The post You talking to me?

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The best stories are personal If your organization wants to communicate well with donors in a way that moves them to feel connected to your mission youll need stories. Stories are how we relate… and have been forever. It’s a human thing. Consider Neanderthal cave art. Even before we were Homo sapiens, we […] The post Transform your interview process into storytelling magic appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

MAY 6, 2025

Every time I hear a frustrated fundraiser talk about donors who aren’t giving, that lyric pops into my head. (In case you don’t know, it’s thanks to Steven Patrick Morrissey and Johnny Marr, of course). I know it’s human nature to look around for someone to blame when things don’t go as planned. And right […] The post You just haven’t earned it yet, baby: 5 ways to start appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

IT

Hands-On Fundraising

APRIL 15, 2025

Facts fail where stories sail. When I see what comes into my inbox or mailbox from nonprofits, the ones I shake my head at usually have something in common. They ask for a gift based on a list of statistics and accomplishments. And I understand the urge. You’re proud of the work you do. You’re […] The post How to raise more money? Less sell and more tell appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

APRIL 8, 2025

Dont automate your communication Every day it seems theres another shiny new toy, based on AI, to make fundraising faster and easier. Its surely tempting for an overworked nonprofit staffer with scary-big goals to hit. But while there are certainly areas that might be turned over to automation, communicating with the people who support your […] The post Choose Humanity: Why Real Conversations Beat Automation appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

AI

Hands-On Fundraising

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Fundraising is about using your heart as well as your head. And maybe fundraising isnt really about money at all. In the long run, successful fundraising focuses on relationships. And good fundraisers use their hearts as much as their heads. Does that mean every one of your donors needs to be someone you know personally? […] The post You can put more heart into your fundraising today appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 1, 2025

I want you to raise more money. So I want you to fix your thank you letters. I understand why thank you letters might seem an afterthought. When I first started working in development, I felt comfortable around data and record-keeping. It felt neat and orderly. You plug the numbers in correctly, and you get […] The post Do your thank you letters need a little help?

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

APRIL 22, 2025

Zoom in… How close can you get? If you want to write better, one resource I love is the Very Good Copy newsletter from Eddie Shleyner. Recently, he wrote about photography and zooming in to get a better image. He quoted photographer Robert Capa: If your pictures arent good enough, youre not close enough. Getting […] The post Zoom in for more effective stories appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

MARCH 18, 2025

Here are some basic rules that I use when I write to donors. After many years writing for donors, there are a few rules I always keep in mind. Because I know when I do, what I write raises more. So consider following these rules as well. I hope they help! Rule 1. Kind beats […] The post Follow these rules and raise more appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

If youre looking for a compelling fundraising campaign idea to supplement your nonprofits annual fundraising efforts, look no further than peer-to-peer fundraising. What makes peer-to-peer fundraising such a great strategy to support annual fundraising campaigns? This fundraising style allows your nonprofit to: Lets explore five strategies your nonprofit can use to integrate peer-to-peer fundraising into […] The post Integrating Peer-to-Peer Fundraising with Annual Campaigns appeared first

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JANUARY 21, 2025

Storytelling rightfully gets lots of attention After all, human beings communicate through stories and always have. You probably know someone who is a terrific storyteller. Ive got a friend with a real gift for it. It doesnt matter whether shes telling me about a life-or-death situation or a trip to the grocery store. Either […] The post If you want to raise more money, tell me a story appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

OCTOBER 29, 2024

We’re heading into the year-end flurry of fundraising. What’s your ask? Tis the season, and fundraisers everywhere are preparing. What’s your year-end ask? It’s also the season for multiple “giving days”… like GivingTuesday or December 31st. I hope you’re already polishing up the last details of your year-end campaign. But before you mail anything or […] The post Why you need a great ask at year-end appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

DECEMBER 3, 2024

Does wading into a room full of strangers terrify you? Are you sure you’ll have nothing to say? Afraid you’ll embarrass yourself with your tied-up tongue? Never fear. I’m an introvert who likes people, but I find the idea of glad-handing, networking or otherwise behaving like my extroverted colleagues intimidating. And I’ve been doing this […] The post 5 Donor relations tips for shy people appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

MARCH 25, 2025

Im a sucker for a good story. Yesterday, despite a library book I hadnt even started, I went to the bookstore and came home with four more novels. Lately, Ive needed some good space opera to take me far away from our current reality. And its that take me away part that’s key for me. […] The post Whats the ask? appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

MARCH 4, 2025

It’s not about you. Sorry. Quite often, I go through my mail and see appeals that disappoint me. It’s not that the cause is wrong (those I rarely even open). It’s the self-aggrandizing tone. I’ve been thinking about this for years and have held off writing anything. I don’t want to point fingers at any […] The post It’s not about you appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

If you’re a fundraiser, part of your calling is spreading gratitude. Does this sound like a familiar exchange? Thank you!” “No, thank YOU!” Saying thank you is an expected part of our social discourse. It smooths the way for simple – and more complex – conversations. Someone holds the door for you, and you say […] The post You can spread a little gratitude and feel happier appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Do you want to know what your donors think? Do you want them to know you care what they think? Would you like some interesting information about your donors – including testimonials and suggestions you might never get otherwise? Then you want to try a donor survey I first created a survey years ago. (You […] The post Unlock your impact: try a donor survey today!

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 8, 2025

You’re a fundraiser. And when your work means communicating with donors, you probably think about the gifts you hope your organization will receive. But have you thought about the gifts you can give? I’m not talking about stickers, keychains, or the like. I’m talking about something much more meaningful. Something that can build relationships. We […] The post Happiness is a gift you can give appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

OCTOBER 1, 2024

It can be the toughest part of your fundraising communications to grasp. Like a slippery fish, it keeps jumping from your grasp. I’m talking about your fundraising offer, of course. The gap that describes your need. The central part of fundraising that’s so easy to slide over, or step around. The guts of the whole […] The post Mind the gap appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

If you fixed just 6 fundraising mistakes, you’d raise more money. And I know, like it isn’t hard enough being a small organization, right? Not enough staff. Not enough time. And definitely, not enough money. You get used to making do. Find shortcuts. You work a lot. But too often, you don’t do the things that […] The post 6 big fundraising mistakes small organizations make appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Many years ago, I began reading about something new to me. Tom Ahern tipped me off to donor newsletters. Though I’d been in fundraising for nearly ten years by then – focused on individual donors and annual giving – I tended to think of newsletters as something very large organizations sent. (And those were often […] The post All about donor newsletters appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

And what does women’s work mean? A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the struggles of balancing work and life – especially for those of us in the nonprofit world. Many of you read it, shared it, commented, or sent me email messages. I’m so grateful to everyone. Because stress is a very real problem. And […] The post Is philanthropy “women’s work”?

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

Winning a new donor is always an exciting feat. Your mission has inspired yet another individual to support your cause, and that’s something to celebrate. However, once you pull in new donors, it’s time to start strategizing how to keep them around. Too few nonprofits focus on donor retention, and the numbers show it. In […] The post How to Segment New Donors for Effective Communications appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

AUGUST 27, 2024

Memorial gifts – the most emotional gift? It’s not a gift you look forward to making – or inspiring. It represents someone’s loss and sadness – though also their hope. As a fundraiser, a memorial gift is one of the most emotional gifts you will likely receive. For me, the question is personal. When I […] The post How do you handle the most emotional gift?

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

AUGUST 20, 2024

It’s been a long time, but I remember when I first began writing appeals. This was before we had access to the internet and a huge amount of information at our fingertips. I was smart enough to subscribe to Jerry Huntsinger’s newsletter, though. (On paper, mailed to me!) As I mentioned recently, I took my […] The post Beginner? How to write appeals that work appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

AUGUST 13, 2024

Looking for new donors? 5 things to think about So you’re looking for a few good (new) donors, are you? (Isn’t everyone?) Before you start pushing mail out the door or emailing wildly, there are some steps you should take. 1. Before you start: are you caring for your current donors? If you’re not already […] The post Looking for new donors?

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

AUGUST 6, 2024

We’ve got work to do. I recently read a piece from Give.org, “Public Perceptions of Charity Impact.” In it, they refer to their recently released Special Donor Trust Report. And one of the findings left me with my head in my hands. Those with household income above $200k who report they know the meaning of […] The post Empowering donors: measuring impact appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 30, 2024

Great development directors are precious. It seems there is a constant demand for development directors. Turnover is a tremendous problem. People wonder why they can’t find a great one. In their study, Underdeveloped, CompassPoint and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund found “high levels of turnover and lengthy vacancies in development director positions throughout the sector” […] The post This is why you can’t find a great development director appeared first on H

Funding

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 23, 2024

There is no faster way into our brains than an image. As Peter Temple explains in this post, “We don’t see words as a series of letters. We see them as pictures.” He goes on to say that our brains read words as a series of images. We’re able to quickly (milliseconds) put them together when […] The post How do you connect with donors? Show more. appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 16, 2024

First, why does donor retention matter? Ah, donor retention. We talk about it often. But why does it matter? Acquiring new donors is hard and often expensive. (You still need to do it.) So not doing all you can to keep the donors you have is like tossing money out the window. Prioritize retention! Also… […] The post Your donor retention how-to appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 9, 2024

Playing cute tricks with donors isn’t the win you think it is I’ve been stewing about a certain kind of gift solicitation. I’ve hesitated to write about it. But I get more annoyed the more I think about the damage these things can do. Want some examples? This is an email I got. (Good organization; […] The post Don’t invoice me when you want a gift appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 2, 2024

I’m convinced we’re made of stories And if that sounds a little goofy, then I’m guilty. But I’m sticking to it. The stories we tell ourselves about our lives and loves. The stories we hear from other people that shed light on who they are. And the stories that we read… whether in a great […] The post How to unearth the stories you need appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JUNE 25, 2024

What sloppy data means to donors Are you ignoring crossed wires? If tending to your donor database is a job passed off on the intern or an occasional volunteer, you’re playing with fire. Why? Because that’s not just “computer stuff” That information is where your donors live. Those relationships you know you should be building?

Fundraising

Hands-On Fundraising

JUNE 18, 2024

Have I ever told you how I became a fundraiser? I’m hesitant to share because I don’t often find myself interesting enough… But I think in this case, there were a few reasons why my first fundraising job became a career lasting decades. And I hope that’s useful to you. My first nonprofit job was […] The post Becoming a fundraiser appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising