Thoughts from the Group

No matter how carefully we plan, mistakes happen. When this happens, it can be tempting to panic, delay, or hope the situation quietly resolves itself. But silence is rarely the answer. In fact, silence often does more damage than the original mistake. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. The broken items are repaired with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. It symbolizes resilience, the beauty of imperfection, and embracing o

We’ve all been there (many of us are there right now). Budgets are tight, expectations are high, and yet donors still deserve to feel valued, inspired, and connected to the mission. This tension is especially true in nonprofits and higher education at the moment. Across the sector, we’re seeing budget cuts like we haven’t seen in years. Entire departments are asked to deliver the same level of programming and impact reporting, but with half the resources. At the very same tim

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

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...

Let’s talk about the unspoken elephant in the room… or rather, in the ledger. Unspent donor funds. It’s the kind of phrase that makes...

Donor feedback. Sometimes, we seek it; other times, it comes to us unsolicited, and usually, when we least expect it. Feedback—regardless...

As part of the stewardship process donors expect many things from us. Chief among these things is demonstrating the impact of the...

How often do we assume people on campus just “get it” when it comes to scholarships? If you’ve ever been frustrated by how scholarships...

Picture this: It's a Tuesday morning after endowment reporting season, and I'm sipping my third cup of coffee (let's not judge). My inbox...

Okay, yes, we know. Naming infrastructure and gift acceptance policies sound about as exciting as watching paint dry. But here’s the...

Designing Your Report Process, Calendar, and Expand Reporting Welcome back! In our previous post, we discussed how to evaluate your...

One of the most common challenges nearly every donor relations shop faces is what to do with corporate and foundation donors?!   While...

In donor relations, our foundation has two primary responsibilities: expressing gratitude and demonstrating impact. While we often focus...

Gift agreements are vital to fundraising efforts. Agreements spell out the purpose of a gift and provide specifics about how the money...

Welcome, fundraising and donor relations enthusiasts! Today, we embark on a thrilling journey into the heart of nonprofit...

First-time donors give for many reasons, and donor retention looks different for each donor behavior type. First-time gifts can come from...

Your impact report should be exciting, not boring. After all, this is where your nonprofit takes center stage, showing your target...

According to Penelope Burk’s Donor Centered Fundraising, 93% of individual donors would definitely or probably give again the next time...

So much goes into your organization's Giving Day, but what’s the point of obtaining hundreds or even thousands of new donors if you can’t...

When you think about donor relations and stewardship, what comes to mind? Thank you notes? Donor reports? Names on buildings or programs?...