Hey Reader, You know how one great conversation can be the spark that ignites a lifetime of connection? It’s true in your personal life — and in your nonprofit life too! If you need to: gather compelling story content for your appeals create deep, meaningful relationships with your donors, beneficiaries, staff and volunteers nurture deeper connections You need to learn how to conduct an empathetic interview. My friend, Rachel Zant, has written this helpful, easy to read guide you can grab...
13 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, If you’re planning a fundraising event and need to secure sponsors fast, I finally just launched the bundle so many of you have been asking for! The Ultimate Event Sponsorship Package includes all my most popular templates to secure, track, and steward sponsors - all in one professionally designed package for an additional 30% off. It’s perfect for executive directors, event planners, and teams who want to raise more money and build better sponsor relationships without starting...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Raise your hand if you've spent hours and hours on crafting the most perfect 5-year strategic plan, got the board to approve it, maybe even gave a presentation to all staff about it, and then...it collects dust. Most nonprofits use 5-year plans to check a box, but miss out on the fundraising opportunities it can bring. When used right, a 5-year plan can be one of the best tools for securing multi-year support. Funders want to know:Where is this organization going? Will they still...
20 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, I was mentoring a fundraiser recently, and we were walking through her donor portfolio together when we paused on one specific name. She told me this donor had been actively engaged—someone she’d emailed recently to ask for a connection to another potential supporter. Not a financial ask, just staying in touch, building the relationship. They’d had a few back-and-forths over the year. But when I asked if she was planning to make a fundraising ask soon, she hesitated. She said, “I...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, It doesn't matter if your budget is $10,000 or $100,000,000, chances are at some point you feel like you are balancing multiple jobs with limited resources and somehow, even less time. So how do you get the job done when you don't have the human resources to do it? The solution? A killer project management tool (without spending thousands on fancy software!) It sounds too simple, but I can guarantee that the reason organizations are missing out on funding opportunities is not...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Sometimes the smallest tweak to your online messaging can be the difference in people donating or continuing to scroll. One way you can get to the former? Try using social proof. When people see that others are already giving, backing your cause, or showing up to support you—it builds trust. And trust leads to action. Here are five ways to work social proof into your fundraising and communications: Share donor stories - Let your supporters speak for you. A few lines about why...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Does this sound familiar: You sit down to make a call to a donor, or write an email or grant narrative. You try to sound professional, grateful, maybe even a little urgent. But when it’s time to make the ask… it just feels off. Here’s a typical example I see all the time: “Hi Sarah, I hope you're doing well! I wanted to let you know we're raising money for our program again this year and really need your support. Any amount would help. Let me know if you’d be willing to donate....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Guess where I am currently...in Nairobi, Kenya! As you may or may not know, I'm still very much an active fundraiser supporting amazing organizations in growing and mobilizing their funding. Which takes me to some amazing places around the world, including East Africa! I had all these plans to stay on top of my weekly newsletter (I haven't missed a Tuesday email in over a year) and then...life happened. Early mornings (including safari!), packed days, and very fun but very late...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, If you’ve been applying for grants and hearing nothing back—you’re not alone. Grants are becoming more and more competitive - especially with recent changes to federal funding and attacks on the nonprofit sector. Here's the truth: Most grant strategies fail because they’re built on cold outreach, no relationships, and a hope-for-the-best application cycle. Grants can be a powerful source of funding, but only if you approach them with the right strategy. Here’s what I recommend...
2 months ago • 2 min read