Fundraising

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Build Relationships for Fundraising Success

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Build Relationships for Fundraising Success

I recently accompanied a client to a meeting with a fund manager at a national bank. The fund manager oversees several family foundations and community trusts based in Tarrant County, some of which had funded our client’s organization in the past. We wanted to meet so that the new Development Director could introduce herself, share recent updates, and get feedback on the grant process.  Over coffee, the fund manager encouraged her to apply to any trusts in her portfolio that seemed like a good fit for the organization’s mission and programs. Her strategy when reviewing applications was to review each application on behalf of the trust itself, not the bank. So, receiving multiple applications during the same grant cycle from the same organization was not discouraged. In fact, it was welcomed.

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Prevent “Fight or Flight” Fundraising

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Prevent “Fight or Flight” Fundraising

A tornado rips through a nearby neighborhood, displacing families from their homes.

An animal hoarding case is discovered, resulting in hundreds of pets in need of immediate medical care and adoption.

A power outage hits a community food bank, resulting in the spoilage of a devastating amount of donated groceries.

Crises like these make people feel compelled to help, to volunteer, and to donate. For nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable populations, there may be periods of time where every day feels like an emergency. When crisis strikes, a well-crafted campaign can bring in a lot of funds very quickly benefiting the donors (giving them a way to help), the organization, and most importantly the clients served. However, it is important to avoid slipping into what I call “fight or flight” fundraising – using messages of desperation or crisis to compel people to give to your organization on a regular basis. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

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One Day, A Grant Seeker Became a Grant Maker: 3 Takeaways for Funder Communications

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One Day, A Grant Seeker Became a Grant Maker: 3 Takeaways for Funder Communications

I have been responsible for preparing and submitting grant proposals for nonprofit organizations for nearly 20 years. I haven’t counted, but I’d bet the number of grant applications and requests I’ve written is in the hundreds.

I’ve also led program development and implementation, which necessarily includes making the case to stakeholders (community members, potential participants, bosses, funders, etc.) for why a given program is needed, how it will make a difference, and why they should get involved.

And of course, there are overlapping duties and opportunities – events, site visits, presentations, and reports. (As a fellow nonprofit management professional, you know what I’m talking about.) Altogether, I have had countless conversations and other communications with major funders. But only recently have I been one.

Show Your Donors Some Love

Show Your Donors Some Love

We all know that stewarding your donor relationships is a basic tenet of fundraising and good nonprofit management.  As we look to celebrate Valentine’s Day, another way to say it may be, “when your donors show you some love, it’s important to love them back!” Everyone wants to feel appreciated and receive some sort of acknowledgement, not only that their gift was received, but that it will make a positive impact on your mission.

“Yes, and…” for Donor Stewardship

“Yes, and…” for Donor Stewardship

Several years ago, I read the book “Yes, and…” by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton, which outlines the concept vital to good improvisational comedy developed by the legendary Second City comedy group. The book explains that the concept of replacing “No, but...” with “Yes, and…” can be transformative not only on the stage, but in all facets of life. That small shift builds momentum and creates energy, which can result in all kinds of good in the world.  I think of this often when developing strategies to build relationships with donors, as it is rare that a nonprofit is surprised by a major gift from an unknown donor.

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