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I’ve written a lot about the importance of nonprofit organizations communicating with their donors, but that’s not enough. You have to do it well. You have to knock it out of the park. Sadly, many organizations fail at this. Their communication is okay at best and just dreadful at worst. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when I received an update in the mail from Heifer International, an organization that brings sustainable farming and commerce to poor areas around the world.
So you had an email that tanked. Or an email fundraising campaign that’s limping along. Or you just want to give an extra boost near a advocacy deadline. Should you resend email to non-openers? Sometimes. Image source: https://flic.kr/p/fnTjdR. Technically speaking, a resend is sending the exact same message to the nonopeners of the original email.
Photo via Village9991 on Flickr. Today on CauseTalk Radio , Megan and I talk to Katrina McGhee , a nonprofit leader and entrepreneur who has more than 25 years of experience in progressive leadership roles, including chief marketing officer for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. On the show, Megan, Katrina and I discuss personal branding for causepreneurs.
We’ve covered a lot of serious territory these past couple of weeks. So, on this summer Friday I’d prefer to wrap it up with a smile and a laugh. Thanks to another ‘goodie’ shoved into my mailbox by Pam Grow and relying on the wisdom of Quincy Jones, musician, humanitarian and all-around genius … why not be serious while laughing: “a big laugh is really a loud noise from the soul saying,’ Ain’t that the truth.’ “ Have a great weekend.
Speaker: Lee Andrews, Founder at LJA New Media & Tony Karrer, Founder and CTO at Aggregage
This session will walk you through how one CEO used generative AI, workflow automation, and sales personalization to transform an entire security company—then built the Zero to Strategy framework that other mid-market leaders are now using to unlock 3.5x ROI. As a business executive, you’ll learn how to assess AI opportunities in your business, drive adoption across teams, and overcome internal resource constraints—without hiring a single data scientist.
You’ve come a long way since you first realized your organization needed a rebrand. At first, you thought strategically about your brand and values. Then you embarked on changing your name to something that reflects them. You involved your colleagues, stakeholders, and board members appropriately. Heck, you even invited some of them to your brainstorming […].
Melinda Billings. We’ve been talking about ways to include other staff members in your work. We love what Melinda Billings at Peacehaven Community Farm came up with to bring key players in her organization together – a book club! We like this idea not only because she used Content Marketing for Nonprofits , but because it’s a great way to make sure everyone is on the same page (no pun intended) regarding goals and best practices.
Yesterday I turned 75. A great age for a tree. After mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, and handling the congratulatory phone calls from my ungrateful heirs I did give a tiny bit of thought to the past. And a lot of thought to the future. My principal Diamond Jubilee Insight is this: Our sector is led by boobs. I’m not talking about fundraisers (I forever will believe we’re capable of learning and redemption).
If we believe Hollywood, psychology consists of a person lying on a couch and talking about their feelings, complete with a man with a mustache and an accent sitting behind a desk listening. If you Google the word “psychologist,” the image that pops up is almost exactly that. (What comes to mind when you think of “ nonprofit psychology?”).
Susan King Cope, the director of development at Carolina Tiger Rescue recently sent me this question: Right now, we provide tours and folks provide their contact info when they check in. We are currently using an “opt out” function. (check here) I do not want to receive mailings. (check here) I do not want to receive emails. But we wonder if this is the best way to collect interested prospects.
My pal ( Tricia Benson ) used to work at Human Rights Campaign. During her tenure, we helped her conduct a couple of simple marketing efforts that uncovered more than 200 previously undisclosed legacy gifts (new legacy society members) and thousands of leads. Now she’s at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation — A wonderful organization! Anyway, we had breakfast together recently and she suggested I write about what fundraisers should do when they get a big gift to ensure that they capitalize on t
Speaker: Gareth Webb & Phil Selley, Founding Partners at Intouch Business
For many nonprofit organizations and NGOs, managing grants and monitoring projects with spreadsheets and manual processes feels familiar—but is it holding your organization back? As funding requirements become more complex and stakeholder expectations for transparency grow, relying on outdated methods can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and compliance risks.
Roger’s keen to deliver a message to nonprofit CEOs (and Boards). More than a ‘message’ actually. He basically wants to ‘water board’ them until they confess to total ignorance of and disregard of fundraising. Then, once they confess, put them on the path to redemption via education. So it seems to me one of the first things to identify is exactly what do we want them to know?
What is it about the prospect of funding from the largest foundations that lights up the eyes of the most hardened nonprofit staffer? “When are you going to write me a grant to pay for my raise?” the program staffer asks. “Where’s my million-dollar grant?” your boss asks, only half-joking. “My sister-in-law’s brother’s cousin knows someone at the Gates Foundation.
Are thought leadership and media relations on your to-do list? Then you need a plan to make it happen! I invite you to join us for our next Accelerator Course on Becoming a Thought Leader and Media Darling. During the six-week program , you and your team will develop a Thought Leadership Communications Plan. With my coaching, help from guest experts, and your commitment to getting it done, you can leave the Accelerator with a plan to move forward.
Recently, my friends at Veritus Group (led by two industry icons— Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels) determined the following: – Organizations WITHOUT a mid-level giving program migrate only.2%-1.2% of their donors to major gifts. – Organizations WITH a mid-level migrate 3%-3.5% of their donors to major gifts. Use this worksheet to see what that means for you: # of donors in your database.
Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.
Forgive me, I still scratching my head as I write, trying to absorb the implications of Roger’s post last week on eschewing demographics as a targeting tool and then yesterday’s praising “The World’s Biggest A **e” , a film supposedly aimed at Millennials, a classic case of demographic targeting. Or is it? The commentator Roger cites re ‘A **e’ says what he “loves most” about the film is the strategy.
When it comes to writing a gonna-get-the-gold grant application, it’s all about body language. Not what you expected to hear? No problem, see below for a closer examination of the anatomy of an amazing grant application. First use your fingers. Take your thumb, index finger, ring finger and pinky (keep your middle finger rested, you may need it for later in the process) and move your mouse.
I hope everyone had a good week. Join me for some Mixed Links… We’re hosting this month’s Nonprofit Carnival Blog and the theme is What You Did This Summer (Or Thought or Felt). John Haydon answers How Does the Facebook Newsfeed ACTUALLY Work? Stop procrastinating and start writing with help from this Copywriting Kick-Start Formula by Marlene Oliveira.
#10. It’s boring. #9. It’s impersonal. #8. It’s irrelevant. #7. It lacks emotion. #6. It’s confusing. #5. It fails to tell the donor what you want them to do. #4. It fails to prove “what’s in it for them” #3. It fails to provide a way for the donor to respond to someone directly. #2. It fails to make the supporter feel good (see themselves as a hero, pay tribute to someone, make a difference, etc.). #1.
Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.
PROBLEM: Overall there are currently 120,000 men, women and children waiting for an organ donation, and roughly 8,000 of those people, about 22 per day, die each year because they won’t receive the organs they need in time. Donate Life America , a nonprofit charged with developing and promoting organ donor education programs designed to motivate Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors, has seen a drop-off in the number of millennial donors.
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