If you’ve ever sat across the table from a donor, small-talked your way through coffee, and felt your stomach drop the moment it was time to actually name the number, this post is for you. I recently listened to an episode of The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos called “You’re Actually Not Bothering People Enough,” and it landed …
The Art and Science of Neurophilanthropy Imagine being the chief development officer for an organization serving unhoused people, when one of the city’s top developers writes an op-ed in the local paper declaring your organization and the shelter and meals programs you offer to be a blight on downtown and the reason property values have …
We live in a subscription-based world. From streaming services to automated monthly orders, people are increasingly comfortable with and signing up for subscriptions. Using this practice is a great way to build your monthly donor program. At the AFP ICON conference I attended a session with the idea that you can use the comfort of …
Lately, We’ve been fielding more and more questions about fundraising during this period of economic chaos and uncertainty. As Laura began to look into resources to support clients, she came across a particularly helpful email from Capital Campaign Pro that offered practical advice. Additionally, they’ve published a valuable e-book titled How to Manage Your Fundraising …
Lana and Lisa just spent five days in Seattle — and got lucky with amazing weather! They kicked things off by wandering around Pike Place Market, exploring funky bookstores, and soaking in the beautiful waterfront views. Then it was time to get to work. For two days, they attended the AFP Faculty Training Academy. This …
As fund development professionals, our plates are full! When juggling numerous tasks and responsibilities, from cultivating donor relationships to organizing events, crafting compelling campaigns, and tackling massive grant applications, time becomes a valuable asset. Time management is an essential skill to develop when managing a variety of tasks and finding good balance. From my work with …
As fundraisers, we often focus far more energy on finding NEW donors rather than retaining the ones we have. We are in constant pursuit of elusive new donors and devising clever ways to get them to notice us. Our boards obsess over “increasing our visibility” and “making sure people know who we are.” Meanwhile, we are …
Are you a nonprofit professional seeking to change jobs in 2024? You aren’t alone – 50% of fundraising professionals say they plan to move on from their current job in the next couple of years. The average tenure in a fundraising position for newer professionals is less than two years (average tenure in a job gets longer the more years you’ve worked in the field, according to some studies).
It’s the most wonderful (and often profitable) time of year for nonprofits! End-of-Year (EOY) giving is a great opportunity for nonprofits to boost their revenue and share the impact of their mission. In fact, approximately 30% of all annual giving occurs in December, with about 10% in the last three days of December. Some nonprofits …
Is your organizational culture spooky? We often share a quote that was originally coined by Peter Drucker: “Culture eats strategy for lunch.” Along the way, someone added, “and structure for breakfast.” It is a funny saying, but you get the point right away. Nothing … no policies, no org charts, no processes and procedures, no lists … can get around an organizational culture that …