The Fundraiser Coach
MAY 8, 2024
I clearly remember walking into the development office, dreading opening up the CRM to start my fundraising week. Sometimes It was because I'd worked all day Saturday, and worried part of Sunday about the work that was waiting for me on Monday. Other times because there was a seemingly endless list of calls to make, meetings to secure and gifts to close.
The Fundraiser Coach
NOVEMBER 19, 2023
Happy Holidays! While prepping a small feast during the holiday season, I thought about how similar fundraising is to cooking. And if you, like me, really enjoy both, you may savor this post. I'll include the evening's recipes at the end! Planning— A well-considered plan always provides the best result for fundraising or cooking. But sometimes, as a fundraiser—and as a cook—you need to be nimble and whip something up at the moment.
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The Fundraiser Coach
MARCH 26, 2024
How are your asks going? It's time to shift our focus from the hurdles of the past few years to the strategies for success in the present. We've all faced challenges, but opportunity still knocks for those who can make compelling asks. When it comes to fundraising, personal connections reign supreme. While events may have suffered, direct engagement with major donors has proven effective.
The Fundraiser Coach
APRIL 1, 2024
Ad from Alaska Airlines I used to smile when I would see this ad from Alaska Airlines. It was witty and exemplified making a quick decision appropriate to the occasion. As a fundraiser, sometimes you need to be ready for a change of plans - a sudden opportunity to speak to a prospect, a change of venue for a meeting, or a mini-crisis at an event. If you have been working in the profession for some time, you have had to rise to meet your own challenges - a board member who forgets to show up for
The Fundraiser Coach
JANUARY 9, 2024
Should you stop multitasking? I honestly think multitasking has saved my life many times. Or maybe it has just saved me time, and in that time of my life, I craved the ability to create more time out of thin air. I was raised in a family where being as productive as possible was highly valued. So, as a parent, I would make dinner, do the laundry, AND help with homework when needed.
The Fundraiser Coach
JANUARY 15, 2024
If you know me, you know I prefer using permission-based language with donors and prospects. I listened to a great podcast by Nikki Rausch, " When not to say, 'Thanks for Your Patience '."In it, she talks about the phrase, which I have used before. ".There's such a difference between assuming permission and asking permission," Nikki notes. That hits the nail on the head!
The Fundraiser Coach
JANUARY 22, 2024
Mostly, we get the Asking on lock. We get around to the Thank at some point (great thanks can really set your nonprofit apart and BOOSTS your fundraising results). And we Report - sometimes we just lump it in with a newsletter or annual report and call it good - but offering a tailored report back on gifts helps connect donors more deeply to the causes they love and values they express.
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