Fundraising is Beautiful

What's the subtext of your donor-communications stream? That is, what's the overarching message they're getting, even though you might not be saying it out loud?

For many organizations, it's:

• We've got this.
• We're taking care of the problem.
• You can partner with us if you like.

But for the really effective fundraisers, the subtext is more like this:

• There's a problem.
• We're looking for great people like you to help solve it.
• Are are helping solve it!

This is the basis of donor love. The big message you communicate with them.

We'll show you how to change your subtext into one that thrills and involves donors -- and keeps them giving.

Program #104

Play: Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter, or that they don't? (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 21:01

A lot of nonprofit thank-you messages say something like this: "Thank you for being our partner...."

That's about as thrilling to the donor as telling her she has nice elbows.

Donors don't give in order to be our partner. They give to have a positive impact on the world in some specific way. And that's what you should thank them for.

Not for what they did in their relationship with you. It's another way to put yourself in the donor's world and not your world. Which leads to better results every time!

A lot of nonprofit thank-you messages say something like this: "Thank you for being our partner...."

That's about as thrilling to the donor as telling her she has nice elbows.

Donors don't give in order to be our partner. They give to have a positive impact on the world in some specific way. And that's what you should thank them for.

Not for what they did in their relationship with you. It's another way to put yourself in the donor's world and not your world. Which leads to better results every time!

Program #103

Play: The right way -- and wrong way -- to thank your donors (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 8:46

Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water (and a fan of this podcast) reveals some of the thinking behind this innovative nonprofit that came on the scene 10 years ago and his virtually re-written the fundraising playbook in many ways.

Get the inside scoop on:

• How charity:water takes its donors on a journey -- every time
• How they manage and market their promise that 100% of a donor's gift goes to the field
• The power of "productizing" (which anyone can do!)
• Charity:water's biggest challenge and how they're tackling it

We learned a lot from Scott. You will too!

Program #102

Click the link to play: Interview with Scott Harrison of charity:water, or right click and "save as" to save the file for later.

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 39:05

Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water (and a fan of this podcast) reveals some of the thinking behind this innovative nonprofit that came on the scene 10 years ago and his virtually re-written the fundraising playbook in many ways.

Get the inside scoop on:

• How charity:water takes its donors on a journey -- every time
• How they manage and market their promise that 100% of a donor's gift goes to the field
• The power of "productizing" (which anyone can do!)
• Charity:water's biggest challenge and how they're tackling it

We learned a lot from Scott. You will too!

There are two opposite impulses that almost all fundraisers fall prey to at some time or another. They are:

• Educating donors
• Abstraction

They are guaranteed response-crushers. And the temptation to do both are powerful.

With real-life examples, we'll show you how to avoid both errors and keep your fundraising strong.

There are two opposite impulses that almost all fundraisers fall prey to at some time or another. They are:

• Educating donors
• Abstraction

They are guaranteed response-crushers. And the temptation to do both are powerful.

With real-life examples, we'll show you how to avoid both errors and keep your fundraising strong.

Program #101

Click the link to play: Two super-common errors that can kill your fundraising, or right click and "save as" to save the file for later.

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 16:19

Some of the strongest fundraising is connected to specific holidays.

Some of the most ineffective fundraising is also connected to specific holidays.

The special edition podcast will show you how to put holidays to work for you. And when not to do it at all.

The most impactful element of any direct mail project is the teaser -- what you put on the outer envelope.

We'll share what works, what never works, and the surprising "most likely to succeed" approach.

We'll also discuss email subject lines -- a closely related topic with some strong similarities to direct mail teasers.

Houses of worship are a powerhouse of the fundraising world. But even they face new challenges in getting their people to donate.

We take a practical and realistic look at the challenges churches face and what they can do to motivate their people to give generously.