We tell our children stories for a reason; they work to relay important information and lessons. Use that to tell stories in your appeals, whether a letter, social media post, grant, or meeting with a donor.

In a profession where the demand outstrips the supply of professionals, we cannot afford to burnout the people working in it. Instead, we need to care for ourselves and each other so we can continue to effectively serve our missions.

Your work does not end when the last guest leaves your event or you clean the last table. That's actually when your work should begin to keep them engaged with you and make a lasting difference.

Make first time donors feel appreciated and showing them what a difference their gift made. But how can you do this? Read this week’s post for a few “simple” suggestions.

Like most development professionals, you probably have a never ending to do list. Learn how you can prioritize your time better to meet the goals of your organization while working in the areas where you are most efficient and effective. Work strategically so you can work smarter not harder.

Last week we talked about the cost to raise a dollar through different fundraising methods. What does this mean for your bottom line, especially when it takes so much of your time to meet with major donors? How is that more cost effective?

You need to take time for professional development, whether in person or virtually, to relax, recharge, and grow in your profession.

Do you know how much it costs to raise a dollar for your organization? If not, how can you assure that you invest your time where it makes the most financial sense.

Soliciting corporate gift should mirror how you ask for money from individuals … with a focus on best practices of major gift fundraising as your model.

As we head into that all important final quarter of the year, you might ask yourself how the economy – and continued unpredictability of the pandemic – could impact your year-end giving campaign.

Do you see others in your community getting 6, 7, even 8 figure gifts and wonder how you can get one too? It takes a lot of work, patience and luck. Learn what you can do to increase your chances of receiving one of these transformational gifts for your organization.

Most of the fundraising appeals I receive in the mail miss their mark. Learn the 3 things that all effective fundraising appeal letters should include. Same goes for email, by the way!

Last week we talked about the importance of retaining donors. This week hear a case study of an organization to whom I made a first gift who has done a phenomenal job of stewarding that gift, making me -- and most of their donors -- much more likely to make subsequent gifts.

As we come upon the one-year anniversary of living in this new normal, now is a good opportunity to see how far we have come as a sector and what work remains.