Donor Growth

We all wish it wasn’t so, but there’s no way around it: our world is a mess.

For some of you, giving has levelled off after a season of overwhelming generosity. We’re facing record inflation. The housing market is unpredictable. The stock market is a mess. Supply chains are broken. Society seems to be more polarized than ever before. And the ongoing war in Ukraine is ever-present in the public consciousness. 

Regardless of how serious you may think things are, make no mistake: most people are paying more at the cash register when they’re buying food and fueling up the family van. 

And most of your donors are feeling a little bit of insecurity—and a little bit of lack of control over what’s happening in the world. 

So what does that mean for your fundraising? 

On today's show, Louis and Mike get into some practical steps you can take today to make sure your organization is prepared for the worst.

GET CONNECTED

Follow Louis Diez on LinkedIn 

Follow Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn 

Join the Donor Participation Project here—a community of 1,500+ fundraisers who get together every month to co-create solutions that increase donor participation. 

Get access to the 5 Minute Fundraising Fix—a FREE mini course that will help you craft compelling fundraising messages that move donors to action and increase response. 

ABOUT

Louis Diez is an expert in annual fund development, digital fundraising, and engagement strategies. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Annual Giving at Muhlenberg College and hosts the Donor Participation Project.

Mike Duerksen is the founder and CEO of BuildGood, a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. He also hosts the Build Good Fundraising Podcast.

Are giving days the right strategy for your nonprofit? 

They're fun. They create a lot of excitement.  They get people to act. They produce a lot of social proof. 

But are they the best use of your time and resources? 

Louis and Mike get into the pros and cons—and provide a bit of a framework for how to think about the business decisions behind participating in Giving Days at your nonprofit.

GET CONNECTED

Follow Louis Diez on LinkedIn 

Follow Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn 

Join the Donor Participation Project here—a community of 1,500+ fundraisers who get together every month to co-create solutions that increase donor participation. 

Get access to the 5 Minute Fundraising Fix—a FREE mini course that will help you craft compelling fundraising messages that move donors to action and increase response. 

ABOUT

Louis Diez is an expert in annual fund development, digital fundraising, and engagement strategies. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Annual Giving at Muhlenberg College and hosts the Donor Participation Project.

Mike Duerksen is the founder and CEO of BuildGood, a direct-response fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. He also hosts the Build Good Fundraising Podcast.

If you want to grow your nonprofit, you're going to have to pay some debt.

You can't avoid it.

But you can choose what kind of debt to pay. 

On this week's episode, Mike and Louis get into the 6 different types of debt every nonprofit that wants to grow will have to struggle with. 

GET CONNECTED

Follow Louis Diez on LinkedIn 

Follow Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn 

Join the Donor Participation Project here—a community of 1,500+ fundraisers who get together every month to co-create solutions that increase donor participation. 

Get access to the 5 Minute Fundraising Fix—a FREE mini course that will help you craft compelling fundraising messages that move donors to action and increase response. 

ABOUT

Louis Diez is an expert in annual fund development, digital fundraising, and engagement strategies. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Annual Giving at Muhlenberg College and hosts the Donor Participation Project.

Mike Duerksen is the founder and CEO of BuildGood, a direct-response fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. He also hosts the Build Good Fundraising Podcast.

Is it time to disrupt traditional nonprofit conferences?

Louis and Mike get into the pitfalls of our sector’s conferences—from thinly veiled infomercials for vendors and sponsors, to the secretive speaker selection process—and what the future of nonprofit conferences might look like.

GET CONNECTED

Follow Louis Diez on LinkedIn 

Follow Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn 

Join the Donor Participation Project here—a community of 1,500+ fundraisers who get together every month to co-create solutions that increase donor participation. 

Get access to the 5 Minute Fundraising Fix—a FREE mini course that will help you craft compelling fundraising messages that move donors to action and increase response. 

ABOUT

Louis Diez is an expert in annual fund development, digital fundraising, and engagement strategies. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Annual Giving at Muhlenberg College and hosts the Donor Participation Project.

Mike Duerksen is the founder and CEO of BuildGood, a direct-response fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. He also hosts the Build Good Fundraising Podcast.