As development professionals, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you don’t have time to build relationships with donors or connect regularly with your funders. However, this work is essential for the sustainability and success of your organization. These activities go beyond just securing financial support; they open doors to collaboration, connections to other potential supporters, a deeper understanding of your mission, and long-term engagement that can drive your organization forward.

Being down just one member of a development team can lead to big setbacks for fundraising. Whether you have a fundraising position that needs to be filled on a temporary basis while a search is being conducted or you have a member of your team who will be out for an extended period of time, interim staffing is a way to fill a gap that ensures you don’t miss opportunities.

If you haven’t yet, take some time to envision the impact you want to have this year. Whether it’s reaching new fundraising milestones, expanding outreach to new prospects, or launching an innovative campaign, set clear and inspiring intentions to propel you forward.

Using direct marketing email metrics and guidelines to help better tailor your campaigns to your specific needs. Here are the top ones to monitor and some definitions in case you’re new-ish to direct marketing activities or can use a refresh.

As you know, running a successful email campaign goes beyond crafting compelling content and hitting the send button. To truly make an impact and stand out from the digital noise, you must tailor your direct marketing email to your specific needs.

What has worked and what to expect when reaching out to new funders and soliciting institutional gifts.

Have you ever had to share some lousy news with your donors? Maybe one of your Board members is being investigated for fraud… Or a high-level staff member got arrested… Or any number of other cringe-worthy possibilities that demand explaining¬—or at least acknowledgment.

Making a donation as a board member is important financial oversight, in part because donations by the board help to demonstrate their commitment to your mission, encourage other donors to make their own gift, and often, help assure institutional funders that those in a governance role are invested in their role and the nonprofit.

As fundraisers, we spend each year shifting from one project to another to make sure we’re maximizing every opportunity for support. As you check off items on your to-do list, how often do you reflect on how you did, or what you should change for next time?