The Case for Support (or Case as it is more commonly known) is the primary tool that an organization has to raise money. It should explain why funds are needed and how the world will be better afterward. The building blocks of a Case are pretty simple. There are the circumstances BEFORE (or Today)...
Continue reading...Wise Words from Wise People
Every now and then, I have published some wise words (here, and here) that I have collected from others. Today is no different. Some of these are the “a-ha” moments, while others bring a smile to a weary fundraiser’s face. Enjoy: I have tried raising money by asking for it and by not asking...
Continue reading...Squeezing the Midsection Isn’t Always Fun
One of my first blogs was a ten-part Fundraising Mythbuster series. There, I wrote about the myth-conception that most money comes from Special Events. For that particular post, I addressed the concept of Annual Fund donors. I dug a little deeper and wrote that we are paying a lot of attention to the top...
Continue reading...You Can Be Your Own Worst Enemy
Last year, I touched upon the topic of The Psychology of Fundraising. I reiterated that I would likely be a much better fundraiser if I had a degree in Psychology. The essence is that a good fundraiser needs to focus on why someone would give more than how someone could give. Today’s blog will tackle the fact that we...
Continue reading...UPDATE: Attitude always pays off when hiring
Four years ago, I wrote an article about charities hiring fundraisers for their attitude rather than their aptitude (here). I surmised that you could learn the skills required, but having the right people skills is not transferrable. Either you have it, or you don’t. The last 18 months of this pandemic have really made...
Continue reading...It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
I do not live my business life with many regrets. I always try to advance the organization’s cause (otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to work for the organization). But hindsight is 20/20. We look for neat and innovative ways of raising funds (as well as awareness) in the fundraising world. But sometimes they backfire...
Continue reading...8 Degrees of Charity
Every now and then, my worlds overlap. I am a proud fundraiser, and I am also a proud Jew. I have often found solace in the teachings of my faith that have guided me as a fundraiser. As I have written about before, ethics are a massive component of successful fundraising. And one of...
Continue reading...Top 10 Articles to Date (June 2021)
What a year (at least) this has been! Some of you have been getting back to normal, while others are just starting the long process. And what is normal, exactly? I know I need to do much more cycling as the sedentary effects of COVID have made me loosen my belt buckle. But, through...
Continue reading...Getting to 90% Might be Good Enough
I admit it. I like to move at a good pace. Perhaps it is my Attention Deficit Disorder, and that I get bored quickly. I guess it is just my working style. But, I have encountered others who are the exact opposite. They labor over tasks. In a former life, if I asked a...
Continue reading...Is Transparency a Given?
I have written numerous times that fundraising is about relationships. And those relationships are usually built on trust. But are charities truly being transparent? Or, are they worried about sharing “too much information”? It fascinates me that so many organizations do not practice transparency — with the outside world or even internally with their...
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