
How to keep your small shop fundraising focus on your major donor work
After having served most of my career as a Director of Development in a small organization, I understand the realities of trying to handle all of the major tasks and responsibilities that come up daily; plus the fires that seem to endlessly…

We're growing our interim fundraising division to help YOU reach your possibility.
Let me share a story with you...
A few years back when I first started consulting, I provided organizations like yourself with strategic fund development audits and assessments and then crafted finely honed plans.
What I thought were roadmaps…

How to get your fundraising "Mojo" back through finding your ideal development position
Not satisfied with where you are currently in your field? Feeling like you have lost your "Mojo?"
I know the feeling, I have "been there done that" as they say.
What often happens next, is that we begin to apply for job after job with…

How to ensure a successful new nonprofit fundraising year
Now that it is January, you may think that it is time to relax a bit after that hectic holiday season. However, now is the time to ensure that you have strong follow-up to your calendar year-end appeal.
If you have closed out one fundraising…

How to run your annual fund like a capital campaign
Annual campaigns can be run just like capital campaigns. Yes, you heard it right. Far too often, I see an annual campaign as only a single, direct mail campaign. However, you can apply the same campaign structure to annual campaigns as you…

How to follow-up on your calendar year-end appeal once it is mailed
Now that your calendar year-end appeal has gone out in the mail, what is left to do?
Well, if you take the "sit back and wait" approach you will be missing out for your organization.
Here are some follow-up steps that you may want to consider…

How to ensure the health of your development program through your annual fund
Often, groups wonder, on what should I focus most throughout my annual fund?
Over the years, I have determined the most critical factors for ensuring that a development program is not only healthy but thriving.
The health of a development…

Using a mini-feasibility study to determine the strategy of your next fundraising campaign
Ever wonder as to what is the best course to take with your fundraising strategy? Let's say that you have been given a challenge match by a donor or you have a fundraising goal that the Board has given to you to raise.
The question becomes not…

Characteristics of a good development director
Technical skill or personality, which is most important when hiring a new Director of Development?
That is a great question.
And, while both would be ideal, that is not always a guarantee.
So, what do you look for in this case?
While…

Developing "Strategic Relationship Building Strategies" for your donor prospects
Developing relationship building strategies for your donor prospects
So, you have the start of a donor portfolio. You have run all the lists, sorted them, and then ranked them. And now, you have your top two hundred donors.
Do you start…

Creating a framework for your annual fundraising campaign
While the calendar may have just turned to the month of June, fundraisers are starting to prepare for their end of year campaigns.
Now, the question is, how do you plan the structure of this campaign? What are the elements that need to…

Creating a "Grateful Resident" Fundraising Program
If you have ever worked for a non-profit senior residential community, you know the importance that the residents play as a prospective donor constituent audience. It is they, and their families, who are the "warmest" potential prospective…