All Nonprofit Marketing and Fundraising Articles
The Partner Test: 10 Questions to Audit Your Donor Relationships
Every nonprofit claims to value donor relationships. But claims are easy. Behavior is what counts. These 10 questions reveal whether you’re actually treating donors as partners or just saying you do. Take the audit and find out where the gaps are.
Why Your Donors Stopped Giving (It’s Probably Not What You Think)
A donor gave three years in a row. Then they stopped. You assume they lost interest or hit hard times. But the real reason is simpler: they didn’t feel like their gift mattered. Here are the actual reasons donors lapse and what you can do about it.
The 7 Real Reasons Your Donors Give (And How to Speak to Each One)
The retired teacher and the business owner on your donor list give for completely different reasons. The same appeal lands differently for each. Here are seven real motivations that drive donor giving and how to speak to each one.
Stop Telling Donors What You Need (And Start Showing Them What They Can Change)
Your budget has a gap. Your instinct is to tell donors about it. But donors don’t give to fill gaps. They give to change lives. Here’s how to shift your messaging from what you need to what donors can make possible.
The Donor Decision: What Actually Happens in the 30 Seconds Before Someone Gives
A donor is reading your appeal. In the next 30 seconds, they’ll either reach for their wallet or set the letter aside. What determines which way they go? Three unconscious questions flash through their mind. Answer all three clearly, and giving becomes easy. Miss one, and the gift probably won’t happen.
The Invitation Mindset: A 10-Day Practice for Fundraisers Who Dread Asking
You can’t think your way into a new relationship with fundraising. You have to practice your way there. This 10-day program builds the invitation mindset through small daily actions, from writing your “why” to making a real ask. Each day builds on the last until you’ve lived your way into a new belief about what fundraising is.
Stop Saying “Sorry to Ask”: 7 Phrases That Sabotage Your Fundraising (and What to Say Instead)
The words you use when asking for a gift reveal what you believe about fundraising. Phrases like “I hate to ask” and “anything would help” sabotage your asks before you finish making them. Here are seven phrases to eliminate and exactly what to say instead.
What Donors Actually Think When You Ask (It’s Not What You Fear)
You assume donors dread being asked for money. But when you actually talk to donors, they tell a different story. Many are waiting to be asked. Here’s what donors really think and how it changes everything about your approach.
The 5-Minute Reframe: How to Walk Into Any Donor Meeting Without Apologizing
The anxiety before a donor meeting isn’t the problem. What you do with it is. This simple 5-minute ritual helps you show up with confidence instead of apology.
The Million-Dollar Delusion: Why Nonprofits Think Software Will Save Them
A disturbing pattern emerges when nonprofits believe new technology will solve fundamental organizational problems. The real solution isn’t in your tech stack—it’s in confronting why you’re avoiding the hard work that actually drives results.
How to Research and Prepare for a 5-Minute Major Gift Ask
A focused, five-minute major gift ask seems simple. Frame the opportunity, make your case, create urgency, and request a specific amount. But behind every successful focused ask is hours of preparation and research.
5 Fatal Mistakes That Kill Major Gift Asks (And How to Fix Them)
Most major gift asks fail not because of bad timing or insufficient relationship building, but because of critical mistakes made during the actual request.
How One Simple Change Transformed a Nonprofit’s Donor Retention from 6% to 22%
Most nonprofits are facing a donor retention crisis, and they don’t even realize it. The average first-year donor retention rate across the nonprofit sector hovers around 15-20%. That means 80-85% of people who make a first gift to your organization will never give again.
25 Influential Nonprofit Voices on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for nonprofit fundraising professionals to share insights, strategies, and best practices. These 25 influential voices are shaping the conversation around modern fundraising, from digital strategies to donor psychology.
What to Do When Donors Say No: Handling Objections After a Focused Ask
You’ve done everything right. You researched your prospect thoroughly, crafted a compelling opportunity, and delivered a focused five-minute ask. Then comes an objection.
The FOCUS Method: A Step-by-Step Framework for Major Gift Asks That Close
The most effective major gift asks take five minutes or less. Not the entire donor meeting – but the actual moment when you present the opportunity and request the gift should be crisp, clear, and focused.
The Complete Guide to Vibe Fundraising: Revolutionizing Nonprofit Development with AI
Vibe Fundraising: the AI-first approach that’s reshaping how nonprofits raise money, build relationships, and scale their impact.
The 48-Hour Follow Up Rule: Why Your Donor Retention Depends on Lightning-Fast Response
Every donor should receive meaningful, personal contact within 48 hours of making their gift. Not just an automated email receipt – though that should happen immediately – but actual human contact that shows you noticed their gift and you’re grateful for it.
The Complete Guide to Donor Psychology: Insights for Modern Nonprofit Fundraising
A comprehensive research article exploring donor psychology, recent studies, and how to apply donor psychology in your work as a nonprofit fundraiser.
Donor Psychology in Action: 15 Practical Strategies to Transform Your Fundraising Results
Your donors aren’t making rational decisions about their giving—and that’s actually great news for your fundraising. Recent research reveals that understanding how people’s minds work when they’re deciding whether to donate can dramatically improve your results, often with surprisingly simple changes to what you’re already doing.
Episode 51: Microsoft Ending Nonprofit Grant Program?
Microsoft just announced they’re ending their most valuable nonprofit grants – and most nonprofit leaders have no idea what’s coming or how to prepare for it.
Episode 50 – How Do I Create a Monthly Giving Program That Works?
In this game-changing episode, Jeremy reveals why most monthly giving programs fail spectacularly (hint: it’s not about the technology) and shares the psychology-based approach that turns occasional donors into committed monthly supporters.
Episode 49 – The 48-Hour Rule
In this episode, Jeremy reveals the 48-hour follow-up rule – the simple practice that can double your donor retention rate without spending a penny on acquisition. You’ll discover why the critical window after someone gives is make-or-break for long-term relationships, and get six specific strategies to implement meaningful contact within 48 hours.
Episode 48 – The 5-Minute Major Gift Ask
In this episode, Jeremy reveals the FOCUS method – a powerful framework that allows you to make compelling major gift requests in just 5 minutes.