Tips on Advanced Fundraising
- Fundraising tips
Paying for Fundraising—Fast, Cheap, and Good?
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA “Jim Jarmusch once explained: Fast, Cheap, and Good… Pick two. If it’s fast and cheap it won’t be good. If it’s cheap and good, it won’t be fast. If it’s fast and good, it won’t be cheap. Fast, cheap, and good … Pick two words to live by.” Many nonprofit executives still struggle with how to pay for fundraising. That’s a shame because fundraising...
Read More - Assessment and Strategy
Should You Send Your Donors Gifts?
Laurence A. Pagnoni With the holiday season upon us, gift giving is sure to be on your mind. A nonprofit CEO, Doretha, recently asked me, “Should I send my donors gifts?” My answer: it depends on what sort of gift and which donor segment you have in mind. It also depends on your previous conversations (or lack of) with them or what they may have said in their donor survey....
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What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA “The same behavior that has led to our success can make it difficult to change. The same behavior that helped us reach one level, may not be what’s needed to reach the next.” Marshall Goldsmith, author A $5 million award letter arrived from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an historic moment in the 15-year-old nonprofit’s existence. They had arrived. Their mission is to...
Read More - Philanthropy
5 Common (Easily Preventable!) Mistakes Nonprofits Make with Data
By Sean Olds Years ago I was introduced to an adage that has been largely attributed as being an old Chinese Proverb, indifferent to its origin the meaning is still sound. It says, "The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, the next best time is today." During Q&A sessions in speeches or panels I often get asked by #nonprofits when should we start collecting #data? I share that adage with...
Read More - Philanthropy
What’s Your Answer?
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA When someone asks you, or when you ask yourself, “Why are you a fundraiser?” what do you say? There are many possible answers to this question. For me, I am a fundraiser because I believe the nonprofit sector can do a lot more to reduce poverty; so I raise funds toward achieving that aim, toward securing the necessary capital for designing and implementing anti-poverty...
Read More - Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday
GivingTuesday 2022 is coming up, Tuesday, November 29th, and it’s a banner day for many nonprofits. Some use it to launch their year-end campaign. No other day creates the same worldwide feeling of philanthropy and good will. Often stylized as #GivingTuesday for the purposes of hashtag activism, GivingTuesday occurs on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s touted as a "global generosity movement unleashing the power of...
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