What Great Fundraisers Have in Common
Professional fundraisers – the ones who are great – have some skills and traits that all of us should aspire to.
How Unrealistic, Untethered Asks Lose Donors (and Dollar Handles Bring Them In)
When donors can see their role in meeting a need, they’re far more likely to step in – and step up.
Why Big Numbers Lose Donors (and Dollar Handles Bring Them In)
Big numbers describe need. Dollar handles invite participation.
Why Midlevel Officers Deserve Equal Pay
Midlevel officers are often underpaid compared to their MGO counterparts. But they have their own high-level skills and should be paid well when they succeed.
Being New at Year-End: How to Turn It into Your Fundraising Superpower
If you’re new, year-end doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In fact, it’s the best possible time to step into fundraising.
When Capacity Lies (and What It’s Costing You)
Wealth ratings are a tool, not a truth. They can guide your thinking, but they should never replace your instincts, your conversations, or your curiosity.
Great Nonprofit Leaders: How to be one, and how to become one
No matter where you sit, you can choose to be a person with integrity, who seeks clarity, who exhibits courage.
Great Nonprofit Leaders: What We’ve Learned
Good leaders not only strengthen organizations; they also bring out the best in our people.
How to Keep Sane when your Leaders Miss the Mark
Every bad leader is also a teacher, showing us the leader we refuse to become.
When Leadership Misses the Mark
Sadly, not every non-profit leader leaves a legacy of growth, trust, and mission-centered success. Here’s what we’ve seen.
Don’t Just Serve Bacon: Creating Stories of Impact that Actually Inspire
Next time you create a story of impact, try to include something for donors of each of these four types...
No Need to Reinvent the Wheel: Using Ask Letters for Stewardship
Here’s a simple, efficient way to make a meaningful connection with donors without creating additional work.
GivingTuesday Isn’t a Mid or Major Donor Strategy (And That’s Okay)
When you lead with what donors value, and how their gift solves a real problem, GivingTuesday becomes a helpful tactic, not your strategy.
The Midlevel Dilemma: Build Relationships or Scale Direct Mail?
Explore the tension in mid‑level fundraising: should nonprofits invest in one‑on‑one donor relationships or scale through direct mail? Learn the benefits, trade‑offs, and strategies to balance both for sustainable growth.
Fundraising: Is TWWADI Holding You Back?
Explore how the ‘TWWADI’ mindset can be limiting your fundraising growth — and discover practical strategies to break free, refocus your impact, and build a more sustainable development program.
Midlevel: The First 90 Days. Hire. Onboard. Delight.
Master the first 90 days of a new mid-level fundraiser — from hiring to onboarding to delighting them — with a structured goal‑oriented plan, relationship building, and clear performance check‑ins.
Midlevel Metrics: Four S’s – and one of them is not “sucks”
Explore the four key metrics every mid‑level fundraising program needs — Stay (retention), Stretch (gift value), Soar (pipeline), and Strengthen (relationships) — to build a high‑impact, mission-driven donor strategy.
Fundraising Strategies: Don't Fear Change, Embrace It.
Discover how fundraisers and nonprofit leaders can lean into change — using adaptive mindsets, strategic frameworks, and communication to turn disruption into opportunity.
Fundraising Impact Reports: Creating Stories That Actually Inspire
Craft nonprofit impact stories that truly resonate — using real people, emotion-first language, and clear narrative structure to inspire action, not just sentiment.
Midlevel Fundraising: The Art and Science
Learn how mid-level fundraisers play a crucial role in driving nonprofit growth — blending strategy, relationship-building, and data systems to cultivate major donors and sustain long-term giving.