I’ve been thinking a lot about this transition time between the restrictions of COVID and “normal” and what it means for fundraising, especially to meetings and events. I’ve gotten numerous emails from people looking for protocols and sample policies around going back to the office, visiting donors, and having events. Everyone wants to know what someone else is doing. No one seems to have answers. Now, I’m not someone who has the answers either. I’m a fundraising team leader, not a human resources specialist. But here’s what I do know. While we have done an amazing job in adapting to online w ..read more

At my organization, we are in the middle of our annual evaluations and work plans. For me, like so many other fundraisers, this is often a time of re-sorting priorities. There’s always so much to do, so many opportunities throughout the year and at year-end, that creating a new work plan in January is a welcome reset. But what this exercise often ends up being for me is not a list what I will do, but more of a list of what I won’t do. To prepare for my evaluation and work plan, I looked at: Our strategic plan: This document has guided me through many iterations of priority setting. What do I ..read more

January is traditionally about new beginnings and fresh perspectives. This year’s start is a little rocky to say the least, but it’s still perfect time to reconsider how you’re making your case for support. In fact, a new take on your fundraising story is more important this year than ever. Your donors want to know: How are you handling the pandemic? How has it impacted your clients? Have you been able to keep your staff? Did you get a PPP loan? Will you get another? Is everyone healthy? How did year-end go for you? Did your donor community provide enough support? Bottom line – they want to k ..read more

We’ve written in this blog almost every year about year-end and its unique challenges. But this year is really….unique. Not only are we not in our offices to check the mail or answer the phones, we are also not able to visit our donors, drop off holiday gifts, or have a holiday open house. But, like so many other things in fundraising during the pandemic, the basics still apply: Know your gap: Hopefully you already know how much money you need to raise in December to meet your year-end goal – or in my case – your 2020 budget. Create a LYBUNT list: Do you know who gave Last Year But Not (yet ..read more

This week, we have a guest blogger! Welcome to Kristin Candella, Executive Director and CEO of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity. We’ve been talking about virtual events lately and Kristin offered to share Fort Collin’s Habitat’s incredible success with their recent We Build Breakfast. Here’s what she has to say: I was a late adopter of the Blackberry when it first came out and said I would NEVER schedule a meeting in this way and now my dependence on my device to capture my calendar, contacts, and life is laughable. I feel like virtual events are going to have a similar trajectory for me, so ..read more

Like so many of you, I was never really looking to become someone who knew a lot about virtual events. But just this past Thursday, I looked on – after months of work –  as my organization’s long-standing gala streamed live on YouTube. I can’t encapsulate the whole story of the twists and turns of my virtual event journey in a single blog post, but I thought I would share a few lessons from the front lines. Honestly, while I love house parties and stewardship events for donors, I have always had a healthy dose of skepticism about large fundraising events. As we’ve talked about many times ..read more

As I write this blog, my most precious belongings are packed in my car and ready to go. Leslie is ready to take me in if I need it. And, I’ve double checked that my homeowner’s policy is paid up. Colorado is overrun with wildfires and one of them happens to be looming nearby. And yes, Dear Reader, I’m calm enough to write this blog for you. You see, I’ve been through this before. In 2010, the Fourmile Canyon Fire came to my back door. At that time, I had two young sons and we only had about 45 minutes to evacuate. Our house survived, but many of our neighbors’ homes did not. If you’re reading ..read more

The question comes up every election season: what will happen to fundraising in the wake of a major election? But this year – this wild year of 2020 – it’s hard to know what’s going to happen from day to day, much less in the last four weeks of the year when so much of the philanthropic giving happens in this country. So, while I can’t possibly tell you what will happen to fundraising after November 3rd this year, I can advise you on how to keep your focus and move ahead: Your message: For all of us in the nonprofit sector, the results and the aftermath of election day don’t change one thing ..read more

Few things in fundraising compare to those times when a donor and a cause align perfectly and you’re there to help make it all happen. A colleague of mine was thrilled last week after she conducted her first-ever six-figure ask. The donor said “yes,” which was wonderful. But it was so much more than that. Making that gift was an opportunity for the donor to recognize a loved one and to leave a legacy for the children of his community. Giving for him felt good. Really good. Suffice it to say, there were tears all round. These are the moments that remind us why we do this work. No matter the siz ..read more

For fundraising, the day after Labor Day isn’t just about Back-to-School. It’s about getting set for the giving season. This year, things are uncertain and challenging (to say the least!). But Americans have a tradition of giving at the end of the year The giving season will happen – even in 2020 – and you need to be ready! I wish I could say that there was a silver bullet or a crystal ball or some kind of secret plan. But the fact is that the best thing to do right now is to ground yourself in the basics: Take a look at your results so far: Revisit your financial reports to see where you are ..read more