Development / Fundraising

Don’t get so caught up in present funding needs that you neglect future funding for your nonprofit.

As the economy continues to stumble, gifts from estate plans become more important. Donors have less disposable income to give right now but they still want to support your organization. Build on that relationship through a Planned Giving program.

Does your nonprofit have a successful planned-giving program?

It should and it can, for little or no cost. Inspire your board and development executives and staff to get going on planned giving with these facts:

• the largest charitable gift that donors ever make is often a planned gift
• nonprofits annually receive $20+ billion in bequests, (between 8%-9% of all charitable giving) according to Giving USA
• 100% of your individual donors are the perfect candidate for this type of gift (of course, some more so than others)

With more and more communications channels out there, your supporters are getting bombarded with more and more messages from for-profit and non-profit sectors alike.

So how can you make sure your organization stands out? (Hint: it’s not by jumping on the next social media tool.)

50 Asks in 50 Weeks is a “back to basics” online course for executive directors and development directors who want to raise more money for their nonprofit organizations. It specifically targets organizations with small development offices and provides clear steps on how to create a simple plan for raising more money.

Most development directors are so busy doing day-to-day tasks of fundraising -- writing thank-you notes, grant reports and newsletters; managing databases; creating budgets; -- that they don’t have time for or forget the most important thing: asking!

This session will help participants create:

• a development plan that ensures a diverse funding stream
• a system for asking for gifts in smarter, more efficient ways
• a system to ensure asking for gifts all year long

Brief discussions on event planning, grant writing, individual solicitations, and direct mail are included. This session is based on Amy Eisenstein’s new book: 50 Asks in 50 Weeks: A Guide to Better Fundraising for Your Small Development Shop.

We heard you.

You’re eager to use LinkedIn to find high-wealth donors, board members, volunteers, and partners who will be passionate about your mission. You know that LinkedIn is a tool every nonprofit can afford -- it’s free! -- but you’re not sure how to put zing in your profile and how to find the gold in that massive database. Having a great profile is a basic tool for connecting with major donors. If you, your team, and your nonprofit don’t shine brightly, you’ll get passed over.

LinkedIn is a treasure trove for nonprofit development and outreach. What’s more, it is a great way to find potential board members who have a passion for your mission and the skills your nonprofit needs now.

The profile of your next board member is in there. So, too, are the profiles of corporate and individual donors.

Do you know how to find them quickly? You may already have connections to them. Do you know how to find out and get an introduction? After taking this course, you will know.
 

Humor, storytelling, authenticity, and passion give you the power to engage listeners. And engaged listeners are more likely to take action on your behalf.

In this webinar, you'll learn to develop your personal story, tell it with passion, and use your voice to draw people in. You'll also learn how to think on your feet so you can respond to tough questions with solid, confident answers. Our instructor’s 5-step process makes sure you can.

The class adds to the skills taught in Giving Voice to Your Cause. If you liked Giving Voice, you'll like this webinar as well. However, there is no pre-requisite for joining this webinar.

Spark a connection with your listener by being:

• personal and personable,
• authentic about yourself and your cause
• ready and able to deal with doubts

Whether you’re speaking to one person or to one thousand, your unique voice has a sweet spot. When you tap into it, people will listen to you and want to help your cause. Your passion will become their passion.

And that’s what you what when your goal is: to influence other to donate, volunteer, or invest in your nonprofit or social enterprise.

If you are a working in or running a nonprofit, LinkedIn is the best way to showcase your personal, professional profile. And if your profile rocks, it will boost the brand of the nonprofit you love.

If raising funds online is about technology, then raising funds through direct mail is about paper.

But that’s just silly. Any form of fundraising is about the relationship between the nonprofit and the donor or prospect. Strengthen that relationship and you increase the frequency and amount of donations as well as the number of donors.

Does your nonprofit know how to use online resources to find good donor prospects? The right research tools can ratchet up your revenue stream and increase the development department's success.

The information is out there – yours for the taking –  if you find the right databases and learn how to use them efficiently. In this online course for nonprofit leaders, you will get practical information in an affordable and convenient format that includes plenty of time for questions and answers.