The Fundraiser Coach

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

One of the biggest challenges we face as major gift fundraisers is balancing two distinct ways of thinking: our internal, metrics-driven mindset versus the donor-focused approach that builds relationships. The most successful fundraisers understand that thinking like a donor is key to closing transformational gifts.

Fundraising

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 9, 2025

Pro Tip: Build this plan in December when other fundraising activities slow down. Use metrics to back this up. Frame grant work as part of larger goals: scaling services, diversifying funding, or expanding reach. What NOT to Do Dont just nod along when someone suggests an unrealistic grant goal.

Grants

Blackbaud

APRIL 24, 2025

Its a normal part of life, work, and fundraising. While some mistakes are unavoidable, there are a few common fundraising pitfalls that we see organizations regularly make. If you can avoid these or adjust the following issues in your current fundraising programs, it will set your programs and your organization up for success.

Fundraising

Just Write Grants

JANUARY 9, 2025

To stand out in the competitive grant landscape of 2025, aligning your proposals with your organizations strategic goals is not just advisableits essential. Are your goals and objectives still relevant for 2025? Ensure that your strategic goals are: Specific and Measurable: Clearly define what success looks like.

Proposal

Qgiv

JANUARY 8, 2025

According to school fundraising studies , only 64% of parents, teachers, and administrators believe their school is well-funded. As a result, choosing the right school fundraising ideas to excite your school community is essential. Implementing a well-organized and engaging fundraiser can yield numerous benefits for your school.

Fundraising

Just Write Grants

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

To capitalize on this opportunity, nonprofits must employ effective strategies to maximize their fundraising efforts. Set Clear Goals Establish specific, measurable goals for your year-end campaign: Fundraising Targets : Set clear monetary goals for December and communicate these goals to your supporters.

Fundraising

Ann Green's Nonprofit

APRIL 21, 2025

Some of the PACs send emails that are so obnoxious they give fundraising a bad name. This is very common for fundraising campaigns and inviting people to events, as well as including a link to your email newsletter on your social media platforms. Youll also want to send regular reminders for fundraising appeals and event invitations.

Electronics

Blackbaud

JUNE 6, 2025

If you’re a fundraiser, this might sound familiar: An experienced development team at a mid-sized university foundation is doing everything right to hit their goals for prospect meetings. The Changing Landscape of Donor Engagement The fundraising landscape has transformed dramatically over the past decade. What’s the problem?

Fundraising

GiveSmart

MARCH 12, 2025

Your nonprofit’s fundraising success depends on various factors, some outside of your organizations control. Follow these best practices for fundraising and donor data to maximize your chance of long-term success and growth. Examples of quantitative data include metrics such as donation amounts, number of donors, and page views.

Fundraising

Greater Giving

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Why Year-End Giving Is So Important The last weeks of the year are prime time for fundraising. Here’s the deal: a well-planned year-end campaign isn’t just about hitting your goals. Start With a Clear Goal What do you want to accomplish before the year ends? What metrics will you track? Need help planning your campaign?

Goals

The Fundraiser Coach

MARCH 30, 2025

With major gift fundraising, it’s about understanding the person , not just knowing their giving history. In unsettled times, it’s tempting to focus on metrics: number of meetings, dollars raised, goals hit. When you lead with connection, you become more than a fundraiser. It happens in conversation.

Metrics

Ann Green's Nonprofit

DECEMBER 11, 2024

However, one of its most important functions is as a tool for fundraising. Below we will explore actionable tips and strategies to help you design or revamp your website to turn it into an effective fundraising powerhouse. Clearly outline your immediate funding priorities, such as specific programs, campaigns, or goals.

Donation

CauseVox

OCTOBER 10, 2024

So, if you’re considering launching a GivingTuesday fundraising campaign , having a strong presence on social media is a no-brainer for success. Free Download: Year-End & GivingTuesday Fundraising Toolkit 1. An example of storytelling in a Raising Hope Dogs GivingTuesday social media fundraising campaign.

Media

Big Fundraising Ideas

DECEMBER 22, 2024

What Are the Best Practices for Conducting a Post-School Fundraiser Review? Blog Summary: Post-school fundraiser reviews are essential for ensuring long-term success and continuous improvement. Key practices include setting clear objectives, analyzing metrics, and celebrating successes to foster accountability andmorale.

Fundraising

Qgiv

DECEMBER 10, 2024

By personalizing your donation letters, your nonprofit can increase fundraising revenue and develop long-lasting supporter relationships. These letters are particularly impactful during nonprofit giving days like GivingTuesday and targeted fundraising campaigns, providing a personal touch that can resonate with recipients.

Template

Community Boost

OCTOBER 30, 2024

From simple “Donate” buttons to advanced fundraising campaigns , Facebook’s tools enable nonprofits to creatively engage supporters and drive donations. Fundraiser Pages: Create dedicated fundraiser pages where supporters can learn about your cause, donate, and share the fundraiser with their networks to help spread the word.

Fundraising

Community Boost

JULY 25, 2025

With so much at stake, major gift fundraising can cause major stress. Many fundraisers wonder, “Am I asking at the right time? If you’re like most nonprofit fundraisers, your days are packed with meetings, reports, and campaign deadlines. Am I asking in the right way?”

Fundraising

Just Write Grants

JANUARY 2, 2025

DEI Metrics and Reporting Nonprofits will be required to report on DEI metrics , including: Workforce Diversity : Providing data on the diversity of staff and leadership. Program Impact : Demonstrating how programs address and advance equity and inclusion within communities served. Shift Towards Collaborative Funding Models 3.1

Grant Writing

Community Boost

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Let’s dive into what Giving Tuesday is, its history, and how nonprofits can leverage this day to kickstart year-round fundraising efforts. For nonprofits, Giving Tuesday is more than just a single day of fundraising; it’s a launchpad for ongoing efforts throughout the year. What is Giving Tuesday? How Does Giving Tuesday Work?

Nonprofit

Blackbaud

DECEMBER 30, 2024

However, using borrowed terms to communicate mission success has made it more difficult to explain the critical connection between the critical connection between financials, fundraising, and mission delivery. You will have the elements to translate between and marry the business metrics that ROI measured and your mission impact criteria.

Metrics

Blackbaud

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

But you do have evidence in your fundraising CRM. Qualifying has one goal: to turn your pool of rage donors into a curated list of potential long-term supporters. Unless the donors send a note of outrage in the comments section of your donation form, you might not have definitive proof that theirs is a rage gift.

CRM

CauseVox

JUNE 3, 2025

For nonprofit professionals, staying on top of fundraising often feels like spinning plates while walking a tightrope. With the right CRM for nonprofits, you can go beyond donor management and actually level up your entire fundraising strategy. Sound familiar? Youre not alone. Lets dive in!

CRM

Candid

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Fundraising and AI Nonprofit fundraising in an election year is especially tough. What can fundraisers do? Not surprisingly, the Candid insights article with the most pageviews brings together two hot topics, one cyclical and one perennial: elections and nonprofit fundraising. by Chris Maddocks, Blue State.

AI

Blackbaud

OCTOBER 30, 2024

We’ve all received cringe-worthy fundraising messages that just don’t feel quite human. Such subpar messages may be the reason that 63% of fundraisers feel uncomfortable using AI for personalized donor communications. Its value lies in solving complex, role-specific problems—like assisting a fundraiser in making the right ask.

AI

Planned Giving

JANUARY 25, 2025

A defined moves management framework makes your fundraising efforts more efficient and fosters genuine, long-term connections with donors. How It Differs from Ad Hoc Fundraising Unlike sporadic outreach, moves management relies on a structured sequence of actions, tracked in a centralized system. Verify contact details. email opens).

Management

Just Write Grants

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Understanding the distinctions between capital, program, and operating grants is crucial for effectively managing your organization’s finances and meeting its goals. Characteristics Goal-Oriented : Program grants are focused on achieving specific outcomes related to the funded program. Capital Grants 1.1

Grants

Grant Professionals Association

APRIL 21, 2025

Taking this approach not only strengthens project design but also demonstrates to funders that your organization is actively working alongside the community to achieve shared goals. Go beyond surface-level metrics by illustrating how your project will directly improve lives to reinforce both the necessity and the impact of the funding.

Grant Writing

NonProfit PRO

JULY 30, 2025

hide(); }});--> Bonterra, a leader in social impact technology, today announced a powerful new native integration between its peer-to-peer fundraising platform, DonorDrive, and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook platforms. Nonprofits today face declining social media engagement and pressure to grow revenue through supporter-led fundraising.

Retail

Bonterra

JULY 31, 2025

Running a nonprofit is tough, which is why many organizations turn to nonprofit software to help with management of fundraising, donor relationships, and volunteers. Givebutter is an online fundraising platform option that provides nonprofits with the tools they need to fundraise, plan and manage events, and take in donations.

CRM

Blackbaud

JULY 16, 2025

According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project , only 8% of first-time donors make a repeat gift. Research tools and the native capabilities of your fundraising CRM can help you understand the giving patterns of all your supporters and prospects, not just those considered for major gifts.

Fundraising

Blackbaud

JUNE 12, 2025

Engage program managers and finance teams to ensure the project is feasible and aligns with organizational goals. They also show funders that you understand their goals and how your project aligns with them. Ensure your application clearly articulates the need, goals, methodology, and expected outcomes.

Grants

Greater Giving

DECEMBER 2, 2024

7 Must-Have Members of Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising Team With a dedicated nonprofit fundraising team, you’ll execute more effective strategies, plan impactful events, and attain more funding for your mission. That’s where this guide comes in—we’ll discuss the must-have members of your nonprofit’s fundraising team.

Fundraising

Center for Major Gifts

JANUARY 25, 2025

A defined moves management framework makes your fundraising efforts more efficient and fosters genuine, long-term connections with donors. Moves management works best when everyone understands the goals and commits to the necessary tasks, whether logging donor interactions or scheduling regular check-ins. email opens).

Management

Get Fully Funded

DECEMBER 17, 2024

Many organizations are experts at driving traffic to their online donation forms, but plenty struggle to actually secure donations and reach their fundraising goals. Youll need the right fundraising software to accomplish these steps successfully. For mobile users, the primary donation page conversion rate was just 10%.

Donation

Just Write Grants

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

Define Clear Impact Objectives Aligned with the Funder’s Goals Funders want to see that your program’s goals align closely with their mission. Craft your goals to reflect the outcomes they value most, demonstrating that you understand their impact expectations. cost per individual served).

Proposal

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 26, 2024

Tailored Requirements Many local grant programs have specific criteria that align with regional priorities, making it easier for organizations to find funding that aligns with their goals. Engaging with local grant funds is an effective step towards achieving mission-driven goals and fostering community improvement. Avoid jargon.

Grants

Allied Grant Writers

MARCH 17, 2025

Traditionally, funding for these institutions has come from tithes, donations, and local fundraising efforts. Attend Workshops and Training Sessions Numerous nonprofits, local governments, and community colleges offer workshops on grant writing and fundraising. Include detailed budget justifications, timelines, and evaluation plans.

Funding