Year-end is over! Now what? First, take a deep breath and give yourself a few moments of calm. Second, start showing those donors some love with a thank you. A basic thank you letter is a perfectly acceptable way to show a donorRead more…
Donor Love Part One: 7 Ways to Keep Donors Committed to Your Cause
Honoring your donors—and prospects—is, hands-down, the most effective approach to building strong and lasting relationships with the folks whose help you need so very much. It’s no surprise that donor retention is an absolute priority (again) for 2015. Yet theRead more…
Top 10 Major Donor Fundraising Trends for 2014-15
Fundraising is changing! Everything is shifting these days. Major donors are still not quite sure they trust you. Donors are changing too. Post-recession donors really are different! Are you changing your own fundraising strategies to keep up with donors’ newestRead more…
Year-end charitable giving bonanza is a myth
There is an assumption in the U.S. that the best charitable giving season is October, November, and December each year (Year-End). The facts do not support this myth. Most believe that there are two reasons that year-end giving is good.Read more…
Challenge your church to be generous in 2015!
40acts is back for 2015. And in preparation we’ve put together some church resources available now in time to plan for the next term. If you’re a church leader and organising your sermon plan for next year, why notRead more…
What Nonprofits Can Learn from Salvation Army Bell Ringers
I’ve always admired The Salvation Army bell ringers. In addition to donating their time and ringing their signature bell in all sorts of terrible weather, the program raises a sack of money that rivals Santa’s. Last year, kettle bells raised $136 millionRead more…
Top 21 Proverbs on Giving Without Regretting
Christmas is the one time of the year when giving is on the forefront of everyone’s mind and possibly heart. You can witness it in the retailer raking it in, the mom preparing for guests, or the Salvation Army volunteerRead more…
3 Reasons to Stop Referring to ‘The Poor’
“Every single person on the face of the planet is created in God’s image. Everybody has the same heavenly Father. Everybody has capacity, talent, and ability. Everybody has responsibility. Everybody has stewardship responsibility. I don’t care what dirt hovel you’reRead more…
3 Ways to Develop a Lifestyle of Generosity
Winston Churchill once said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Churchill was a great leader, and what he said about giving really drives home the point of what I thinkRead more…
Fundraising Philosophies And Board Ownership
I had a recent opportunity to lead a discussion with scholarship providers about board ownership of fundraising. I presented three core fundraising philosophies: sales, strategic, or stewardship-based, with various degrees of staff-driven or board-driven efforts. Depending on which philosophy the boardRead more…