Thoughts from the Group

Imagine this: a donor calls you, confused by a recent pledge reminder. As they describe what’s in front of them, you feel a pit in your...

In donor relations, we often talk about gratitude, stewardship, and impact, but the most transformative moments happen when we translate...

Let’s be clear: donor relations is not  a side gig. It’s not just about sending thank-you notes or printing pretty reports. Donor...

As a consultant, one of my favorite client projects is a donor relations program assessment . There’s real power in requesting an...

Nothing quite compares to the moment when the final guest waves goodbye and the lights dim at the end of an event. It’s the culmination...

In an era of data-driven decision-making and digital donor engagement, storytelling continues to be one of the most powerful yet...

Donor retention isn’t rocket science—but it is  science. Behavioral  science, that is. And there is already a treasure trove of...

I love donor events—like capital L.O.V.E.—I really, really love donor events. I love how a good event can create a strong emotional...

We encounter many firsts throughout our lives, and these experiences often shape our future decisions. For example, when you buy your...

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

As a millennial, people always found it surprising when I shared that I worked for an organization for 11 years. Millennials are known...

When I was a young fundraiser starting out in major gifts (a story for another day…), I was paired with a much more seasoned fundraiser...

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...

Many of us have that one donor story—a family or individual we've met who made an impact on us and the way we approach our work. We're...

Awards season is in full swing, and while we might not have red-carpet hosts like Giuliana Rancic or Laverne Cox to guide us through the...

How do you know that   your work  in donor relations is making a bottom-line fundraising impact?  One (sometimes loaded) word:  metrics. ...