Fundraising for Beginners

Welcome to Fundraising.

You came to the right place. Let’s explore the basics.

Fundraisers should use pride, not apology, when asking for a gift for a charity that is doing good work.

Henry Rosso

Who is this site for?

YOU CAN BE A FUNDRAISER.

YOU can be a fundraiser!

This site is for anyone with a passion for a cause. Perhaps you’ve just started out in the fundraising profession, or maybe you have been working in development but need to learn more about digital marketing, or even, perhaps, you have a passion for a cause and just want to learn how to help raise more money, if so, this site is for you.

We’ve created this site to teach you the art and science of fundraising. Articles and training videos are categorized and rated by level of experience, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. No matter your starting point, you will be able to learn how to be an excellent fundraiser. Discover great courses that will help you become the fundraiser you want to be.

Natural born fundraiser is a myth. You can learn the skill of fundraising and raise millions of dollars for your favorite cause. I want to show you how.

What skills will you learn?

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF FUNDRAISING.

Fundraising is similar to other industries: there are specific skills you will learn to become a great fundraiser.

From understanding the motivations to why people give to writing fundraising copy that converts, as someone new to fundraising, you’ll need to understand the psychology of the donor and how to present your fundraising campaign. You’ll also need technical skills for managing a donor database, analyzing results, and creating tests to optimize performance.

You will learn how direct mail differs from digital, how to perform direct mail donor acquisition programs and how we’ve adapted those acquisition programs online.

As you progress, you’ll learn different types of donors such as general, continuity, mid-level, major, legacy, corporation, foundation and more. Different types of donors will behave and give differently and understanding how they think will help you craft the perfect fundraising campaigns.

Find fundraising courses that will teach you how to become a world-class fundraiser.

What should I read first?

LEARN SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING.

Key Fundraising Terms Defined

Mastering key fundraising terms goes beyond mere definitions; it’s about understanding their implications and leveraging them effectively in campaigns, donor communications, and team interactions for maximum impact.

6 Successful Phone Scripts for Getting More Corporate Sponsorships

Discover six tailored phone scripts designed to engage and secure corporate sponsorships, each optimized for clarity, persuasion, and relationship-building.

11 Tips to See Your Email Fundraising Grow

Master email fundraising by leveraging these 11 actionable tips, emphasizing genuine connections, tailored messaging, and continuous optimization for deeper donor engagement and enhanced impact.

Cultivating Great Sponsorships for Your Nonprofit

Actionable strategies for nonprofits to secure, nurture, and maximize long-term sponsor partnerships for mutual benefit and greater mission impact

The Art of the Follow-Up: Ensuring That Your Donors are Informed, Engaged, and Primed for Future Support

Mastering donor relations involves authentic communication, recognizing donors as mission partners, and nurturing lifelong bonds through mindful, genuine follow-ups.

Capital Campaigns: Your Ultimate Guide

Capital campaigns can be the lifeline for any organization. In this complete guide, you’ll learn how to lead a successful capital campaign.

12 Tips for Finding Gen Z Donors

Gen Z represents a significant potential donor pool for non-profit organizations, but engaging this demographic requires a unique approach. In this article, we’ll share 12 tips for finding more Gen Z donors, from leveraging social media to highlighting diversity and inclusivity.

20 Interview Questions (and Sample Answers!) for a Nonprofit Marketing Manager

Nonprofit organizations rely on marketing to raise awareness and funds for their missions. As a Nonprofit Marketing Manager, it’s essential to have the right skills and experience to create effective campaigns that resonate with donors and supporters. In this post, we’ll provide 20 interview questions that can help you identify a candidate who has the expertise and passion to lead your nonprofit marketing efforts to success.

7 Tips to Building More Authentic Donor Relationships

If you want to build more authentic relationships with your nonprofit’s donors, following these 7 tips can help! From being transparent and keeping it real, to showing appreciation and being yourself, these tips will set you on the path towards success.

20 Interview Questions (and Answers!) for a Major Donor Representative

In this article, we’ll explore 20 job interview questions (and answers!) that are specifically designed for major donor representative positions. From identifying donor needs to building lasting relationships, these questions will help both job seekers and hiring managers understand what it takes to succeed in this important fundraising role.

How to Craft a Compelling Thank You Letter (with Examples!)

Are you struggling to create a donor thank you letter that truly expresses your gratitude and makes your supporters feel appreciated? Crafting a compelling thank you letter is more challenging than it seems, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll share some tips and examples to help you write a thank you letter that leaves a lasting impact on your donors.

25 Innovative Fundraising Ideas

Are you looking for new and creative ways to fundraise for your nonprofit organization? In this article, we have compiled 25 innovative fundraising ideas that can help you engage donors, build community support, and raise critical funds for your cause.
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