Chris B.

Fundraising is a team sport and members of your programs team play a vital role in building relationships with donors. But this doesn't mean your friends on the programs side of the shop are expected to raise funds. In fact, they might feel intimidated at the prospect of talking with donors or unsure how they can help. So, consider this a quick guide for your non-fundraising friends. If you are invited to meet with a donor, bring your expertise with you. Bring your joy, your knowledge,...

Joy at a nonprofit event is a powerful thing. It can help energize a room full of supporters. It gives life and context to impact stories and future plans. It can be a note of optimism, hope, and even defiance. But it's also delicate. Too much of it can veer into toxic positivity or feel false. So many nonprofits are fighting for a cause against systemic, entrenched, and emboldened opponents it feels disingenuous to talk about a mission without talking about our obstacles. An event that...

Meetings with current, past, or potential donors are the heartbeat of major giving, donor retention, and meaningful relationship-building. Actively meeting with supporters moves your fundraising strategy from passive to active. But we but we don’t always define what a meeting actually is. And like many things in our sector, the definition can get a little fuzzy. Here’s how I define a true donor meeting: A donor meeting must be substantive. The format doesn’t matter (in person, online,...