Thoughts from the Group

I've shared this before, but because the philosophy resonates in so many areas of life I want to share again—I keep a paperweight on my desk that reads, "If you can laugh at it, you can live with it."   And I firmly believe that laughter is, in many situations, the best medicine. It softens the blow of bad news, eases tension, and gives us a lift to keep going. And let's be honest—some days, all you can  do is laugh, especially with some of the things that come our way at wor

Imagine that you’ve just decided to take a road trip, so you plug your destination into Waze. It gives you two route options: Route A 🛣️ : Green lights and clear roads. Arrival Time: 2-3 Minutes Route B 🚧 : Riddled with potholes, traffic jams, detours, and construction zones. Arrival Time: 2-3(ish) Business Days Which route would you choose? Obviously, Route A—right? This is the exact scenario we present to donors when we ask them to give or renew their support.  The destin

We say fundraising is funny, but today? I’m not laughing. This week, the nonprofit sector was jolted by a decision from GoFundMe that—if it had gone unchecked—could’ve threatened one of our most sacred responsibilities: our relationship with donors. If you’ve been around here a while, you know I don’t just talk about donor relations— I live it. Every keynote I give, every blog I write, every late-night brainstorm with my team stems from one simple belief: Donors aren’t data p

Dear Colleagues, Buckle up: What I’m about to share is so egregious, so deeply disrespectful to our donors and our missions, it should leave every nonprofit professional incensed. GoFundMe—yes, that  GoFundMe—has created over 1.4 million donation pages  for U.S. nonprofits without  consent. Let me say that again for the people in the back: They are fundraising in your organization’s name without telling you. This isn’t just a tech snafu. This is a full-frontal assault on the

To centralize or not to centralize—that is the wrong  question. The real question is: how do we ensure that every donor feels consistently valued, regardless of where or how they give? For many organizations, acknowledgments live in a messy, decentralized system. Each unit, department, or program handles things differently, which often leads to inconsistent timing, varied messaging, and worst of all, confused donors. On the flip side, fully centralizing acknowledgments risks

If you’ve ever tried an escape room, you know the deal. You get locked in a room with a handful of teammates, a countdown clock, and a...

We’ve all had that heart-racing moment at work when we realize something is very, very wrong. Mine came during the very first big project...

Think back to the last time someone thanked you in a way that made you smile, maybe it was a heartfelt note, an unexpected gesture, or...

When we take a closer look at thriving advancement shops, one thing stands out: they all view donor relations as a long-term,...

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off, shall we? We need to talk about something that makes most nonprofit leaders squirm in their ergonomic chairs:...

If you asked me why I love Donor Relations work, I could give you so many reasons. I love finding ways to express gratitude. I love...

In large, matrixed nonprofit organizations, donor experiences can vary greatly from unit to unit. Without shared standards, one donor may...

One thing  more evident now than ever before is that our donors want to feel appreciated. While a thank-you letter or email are, and...

It’s been nearly two decades, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Just out of college, I was a brand-new teacher with Teach For...

Can I just say what everyone is thinking right now? These are weird times.  Federal budget cuts mean grants are being withheld from our...

Let’s talk about a behavior that is slowly but surely sabotaging nonprofit professionals everywhere—and not in some grand dramatic...

Donors want to feel seen and known. Too often, we focus our donor communications on what we want them to do—give again, upgrade, attend....

Let’s cut right to the chase. If you’re still thanking donors and asking them for another gift in the same breath, you are not stewarding...

If you've been following DRG for any length of time, you've likely heard us share facts, percentages, and trends based on our own...

Let’s be honest. Most meetings in nonprofit land are the equivalent of rewatching a movie you didn’t like the first time. You show up,...