Do you really VALUE opinions from donors and members?

Has your nonprofit ever sent a survey, poll or questionnaire to your donors or supporters?  Have you ever used a telemarketing company to help you do this? If yes – or if you’re considering it – please read this cartoon. When asking ANYONE to “donate” their time to help you, make certain they have a […]

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Experts volunteer their time: A GIFT for women aviators

Mary Latimer and her daughter Tamara Griffith are both Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs).   From July 29 through August 7, 2011, Mary, her husband and daughter and other flight instructors will hold the Girls In Flight Training (GIFT) academy.  It will take place at the Wilbarger County Airport in Vernon, Texas. Why am I sharing this […]

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Could this be true? Vanity Short Codes Endangered?

I read an article in Mobile Marketing Watch predicting: “Vanity Short Codes Soon to be Irrelevant in SMS Marketing.”  Before I go any further, I want to ensure we’re all on the same sheet of music.  o SMS refers to text marketing; sending text messages via mobile devices. o In text marketing there are “random” short codes […]

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Happy Independence Day, America

I love this country and I’m proud to call myself an American.  May God continue to bless our great nation and its people. USA … 235 years young.

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How To Write Donor-Centric Tweets … examples

Any day of the week I can glance over tweets from nonprofits – charities and associations – and find examples of how not to write tweets for donors and prospects. Today I pulled three examples from my collection of “less than ideal tweets” to share. I didn’t research the charities to learn more about what […]

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6 top cultivation methods (AKA: Stewardship)

Here are the six (6) top cultivation methods to building loyalty, retention, revenue, and the size of your list/file:   1 – Stop talking like a nonprofit and start talking like a human.  Write in your own voice.  2 – Focus on information your donors want and need so they’re more likely to keep supporting you.  […]

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Follow the Straight and Narrow

Did you ever receive that advice from your parents while growing up? In broad terms it means that staying out of trouble leads to a more rewarding and successful life.  And doing the “right thing” is the path to follow. In fundraising I too recommend the straight and narrow. I’m not discussing ethics here (I’m assuming my readers […]

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How can your nonprofit follow the trend and raise more donations?

UPDATE July 1, 2011: I guess few people (if any) value “free” these days. Below I offered to rewrite a direct mail lead or email lead for the first 3 charities who responded. No takers. Offer expired yesterday. [KZ] Based on the Giving USA Foundation report, Americans gave a tad more in 2010; specifically 2.1% […]

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How to Engage Donors and Members

Most of us appreciate good customer service. And one of the prime ways for a business to differentiate itself is by giving good – or better yet, great – service. My question to you is this: How can you differentiate your nonprofit and do an even better job of serving your donors or members? Or […]

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Help the World … One Donor at a Time

Help the beneficiaries of your mission by helping one donor at a time to be the hero of your nonprofit. I – along with many of my colleagues – often stress the importance of focusing your marketing communications on your donors.  Write donor-centric copy.  In addition I often advise you to avoid statistics, large numbers, and […]

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