A guy was driving across town and he saw a billboard. The billboard read “Do you abuse alcohol? Call 555-1435.” The man, who had a drinking problem and had been considering getting help, decided to place a call to the number in order to access assistance. He grabbed his iPhone and dialed the number. “Leroy’s … Read More →
I was having dinner with a donor recently when he lamented to me his frustration at only being contacted by organizations when they want to ask for money. Fortunately I was not there to make an ask at that time, but his feelings resonated with me. The relationship between donor and nonprofit organization is just … Read More →
As is my custom at the end of December, I have been reviewing my goals as well as my outcomes for the year. Since I also have a short attention-span, additionally I have been daydreaming and reviewing past years and decades. Yesterday my teenage son asked me ‘what some of my favorite TV shows were … Read More →
Sometimes there are differing perspectives about issues that are seemingly “cut and dry.” For example, I once had someone impart to me a very unique viewpoint relating to gang violence. We were discussing the fact that kids in gangs often get into these gun battles and there are stray bullets that go flying in residential … Read More →
Organizations today rely heavily on donors who make one or more gifts each year either through the mail or online. These donors are often critical to nonprofit success because they can often be used to keep the lights on, pay for support staff, and defray overhead costs. Sometimes we make the mistake of failing to … Read More →
Executive directors at small nonprofit organizations have said to me in the past that branding is for the ‘big organizations.’ For example, the Red Cross is one of the top three recognized brands in the world. Obviously they have the resources to invest in brand awareness and they understand the benefits. Many leaders of small … Read More →
One of the questions that I often get from young fund raisers working in direct marketing is ‘how often should I mail my donors?’ This is an interesting question, and you can get a different answer every time you ask a different person. I will throw my perspective into the fray, and I hope that … Read More →