FundRaiser Blog

The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.

Meeting with donors for a Big Ask

Meeting with donors for a Big Ask

The Opening: How It’s Handled Will Determine Its Outcome

The first meeting should not take place in a public space such as a restaurant with its distractions and interruptions. Solicitors should begin by talking with prospects about professional and personal interests, mutual friends and acquaintances, places and times where their lives may have crossed. However, solicitors should not forget why they are there. Quickly, but naturally, discussion of the campaign should be worked into the conversation. Solicitors should mention their own personal involvement and commitment to the organization as a way of explaining why it is of such great value to the community. They must convey how important the current fund-raising campaign is to the organization’s future. When appropriate, a tour of the organization’s facilities and the opportunity to meet others involved with the organization should be offered. Finally, solicitors should ask prospects to consider supporting the organization by making a pledge in the suggested amount.

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What's THE Best Fundraising Strategy?

Best

Dear Kim,

I only want to use the most successful fundraising strategy. Which is it?

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Check Out Your Organization’s Fund-Raising Readiness and Learn the Secret Of Fund-Raising Success

Check Out Your Organization’s  Fund-Raising Readiness and Learn  the Secret Of Fund-Raising Success
 

For many people, fund-raising is the stuff of myth and magic—a series of tasks rivaling the labors of Hercules and demanding the powers of a Merlin. Myth and magic, because they offer the balm of simple acceptance in place of the pain of comprehension, can be very comforting, and in no instance is this more true, than when the myth of fund-raising magic is used to excuse fund-raising failure.

“If,” goes the justification, “running a successful fund-raising campaign is an endeavor comparable to dredging the river Styx, and soliciting large gifts equivalent to pulling Excalibur from the stone, what mere mortal can be expected to succeed?” Given that attitude, let me add a corollary: “Why bother to develop a goal or start a campaign?” The answer to those questions is, because we have to, and because the myth of fund-raising doom can’t measure up to the basic truth that fund-raising success is simply hard work on the part of people who are thoroughly prepared.

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Nine basic truths of fund-raising

Nine basic truths of fund-raising
 

The nine basic truths of fund-raising listed below are taken from the introduction to my book It’s a Great Day to Fund-Raise, and they are the foundation of my successful career as a development officer for and consultant to nonprofit organizations.

Organizations are not entitled to support; they must earn it.Successful fund-raising is not magic; it is simply hard work on the part of people who are thoroughly prepared.Fund-raising is not raising money; it is raising friends.You do not raise money by begging for it; you raise it by selling people on your organization.People do not just reach for their checkbooks and give money to an organization; they have to be asked to give.You do not wait for the “right” moment to ask; you ask now.Successful fund-raising officers do not ask for money; they get others to ask for it.You don’t decide today to raise money and then ask for it tomorrow; it takes time, patience, and planning to raise money.Prospects and donors are not cash crops waiting to be harvested; treat them as you would customers in a business.

Learn more about how FundRaiser can help you acheive your fundraising goals

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updates features National Change of Address membership programs segmenting donors add ons upgrade Thank You custom page ticketsales in honor of donations data analysis #GivingTuesday letter change of address updating Volunteer module memorial giving Thanksgiving motivation user spotlights operating systems New Year gift notes field fundraising relationship tracking Congratulations solicitors look and feel monthly giving FundRaiser Hosted online donations spreadsheets Alternative Addresses alumni End of Year Letters disaster relief brick campaign volunteers passwords GoFundMe project product news customer portal Tickles password protection government grants letter templates donor contact information merge fields repeat donors online donations security gift acceptance policy annual maintenance plan ticket sales email operational costs premiums correspondence Task List donor preferences correspondance customer service donor source budget happiness charity golf tournaments texting donors pledges prospects major gift prospects building donor relationships LYBUNTS annual campaign on site training new nonprofit increasing giving amounts planning legacy giving raffle merge notes spare fields personalizing letters office membership benefits technical support major donors training tip new donors reports holiday mailing Personalizing social media overview data conversion training entering auction gifts recurring gifts FundRaiser Spark capital campaign how to handle auction gifts board members donor attrition banquet vacation grants donor relations Snow Birds general Codes user interface Company culture volunteering advanced tab holiday letters animal rescue Excel Importing Data donor prospects pictures direct mail donor retention rate targeted mailings auction membersip benefits arts publicity materials welcome packet tech tip salutation gift entry announcements importing csv thank you letters tax summary letters moves management NCOA processing GivingTuesday how-to videos planned giving appeal data entry Facebook endowment campaign donor attrition rate community broadcasting word processor donor targeting donor recognition foundations transparency understanding giving trends Resiliency phoning donors accounting software ROI mission driven campaign management fundraising letters Cloud Constant Contact new version anonymous donors community supported gardens giving levels Groupings lapsed donor upgrading donors backing up data appeal letters donor adding personal notes to letters development director support Network for Good campaign motivation code grassroots campaign community arts nonprofits new leadership flash sales nonprofit fundraising SYBUNTS holiday giving donor engagement donor retention case study FundRaiser Basic In-Kind gifts large donations donor loyalty new features corporate sponsors follow up donor slip communications donor advised funds Reminders PayPal Crowdfunding Campaign role of nonprofits mode code event management small donations Facebook campaign donation history Donor Portal giving history Reporting to IRS donor profile the Ask tribute gifts

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