I teach nonprofit professionals - over 5,000 and counting! - how to grow their organizations with practical, action-oriented templates and tools. From event sponsorship packages, grant proposals, board orientation handbooks, and everything in between, I focus on helping you save time, effort and precious resources. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), I've raised 25 million+ for other organizations, and now my passion is to help you do the same for yours. Join the weekly newsletter to get time saving tips, tricks and action plans you can implement today to accelerate your nonprofit.
Did you know fundraising isn't about asking for money?
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Hey Reader, When I landed my first fundraising job, I was terrified to ask for money. It sounded awkward. And horrible. It felt like I would be putting people on the spot, and I couldn't imagine that was going to be a fun experience for me OR for the donor. Luckily, I had an incredible mentor who helped me reframe my mindset and understand what fundraising is truly about. Fundraising isn't' about asking for money. It's about giving people an opportunity to invest in something they believe in - in something they WANT to be apart of.
That simple mindset shift can change everything:
And if you don’t know what drives or interests your donor, then you’re not ready to ask for a gift! Instead, schedule a call and ask them. It's as simple as that! Here's an email you can send right now: "Hi ___, I wanted to reach out and schedule a short call. I know you care about [ORGANIZATION], but I had the thought today that I've never thought to ask what motivates you to support us! Do you have 20 minutes for a quick call? I'd love to learn more about what motivates you to give to the causes you support." When you shift your mindset from “asking” to “inviting”—your entire fundraising approach transforms. And the result? A whole lot more yeses! So before your next fundraising ask, pause and ask yourself: What opportunity am I really offering this donor? What do they want to be part of? When you approach fundraising this way, it no longer feels like a transaction—it becomes a partnership. And that’s when fundraising starts to feel good... for everyone involved! Cheers,
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Kay @ NonProfit Life
I teach nonprofit professionals - over 5,000 and counting! - how to grow their organizations with practical, action-oriented templates and tools. From event sponsorship packages, grant proposals, board orientation handbooks, and everything in between, I focus on helping you save time, effort and precious resources. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), I've raised 25 million+ for other organizations, and now my passion is to help you do the same for yours. Join the weekly newsletter to get time saving tips, tricks and action plans you can implement today to accelerate your nonprofit.
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Hey Reader, AI is everywhere right now. Your inbox is probably full of promises that it'll solve all your problems. If I'm being honest, I tune out a lot of the emails I get about AI, so I haven't thought to talk about it. But I also use AI in my day to day fundraising, AND I've seen it used horribly in fundraising contexts and completely botch securing a donation. This made me wonder...would YOU find it helpful to learn how to use AI in your day to day fundraising? Answer below and you'll...
Hey Reader, Even though "making the ask" is really just 5% of what you have to do in fundraising, it can feel SO awkward and overwhelming. Trust me, I get it! (Not sure what the remaining 95% is? Reply to this email "95%" and I'll share more!) The truth is, even the best Executive Directors and fundraisers can be tempted to hesitate when it comes time to actually make the ask. Even when you know the value of your work, putting it into words can feel clunky or overly formal. If that’s you—here...