Donors Planning
Why Rating Sites Matter to Your Donors
Nonprofit rating sites like Charity Navigator matter because many donors will look up your online rating site before making a gift.
Board Planning
Board Mid-Year Review of Your 2026 Plan
Summer is a great time to assess your fundraising plan with your board or fundraising committee. As we get close to the middle of the calendar year, two things happen in fundraising. We hit a milestone in our budget and annual fundraising plan: we’re either halfway through our 2026 fiscal Read more
Grants Planning
Still Focused on Grants? Do It on a Budget
I used to write grants for the small nonprofits that we help with fundraising. (In fact, we used to be called Community Grantwriters, because so many organizations wanted that kind of fundraising.) But guess what? We don’t write grants anymore. (And we’re so serious about this that we changed our Read more
Donors Planning
What to Say When Donors Ask: How Can I Help?
Every nonprofit needs more than just donations. So be ready with a list to answer this important question from someone who loves what you do: How can I help?
Board Donors Planning
Rethink Your Year-End Direct Mail Ask
Direct mail is my least favorite kind of fundraising. Why? And yet, at some level, it works or nonprofits wouldn’t spend all the time and money sending mail appeals. Fear of losing donors is real. It can be easy to forget that donors are just people. So year-end is also a time Read more
Board Planning
5 Steps to Get Your Board On Board With Your 2025 Fundraising Plan
I mentor a new development director at a wonderful, small-staffed nonprofit. This new DD was promoted from the program side into a fundraising role. (I LOVE this!! Who better to tell the story??) Now, the executive director has asked them to present their 2025 development plan to the board. Here Read more