Building a Culture of Philanthropy: Demonstrating Why Donors Give
It’s not pickpocketing or twisting arms—it’s creating a greater experience than the donor could ever imagine. A few weeks ago I wrote on five steps to jump on the path to breaking down silos and creating bridges for your colleagues to build a culture of philanthropy, and embrace fundraising practices. Here are the five as a […]
Intentional Asks: Meetings, Gifts, and Everything In Between
People give when they feel emotionally connected—so events should be engineered to build relationships and reinforce a donor’s sense of purpose. Events as a Key Tool in Major Giving Fundraising events are often seen as high-effort, low-return endeavors when it comes to major giving. However, when structured strategically, events can be powerful relationship-building tools that […]
How Fundraising Events Strengthen Major Gift Strategy
People give when they feel emotionally connected—so events should be engineered to build relationships and reinforce a donor’s sense of purpose. Events as a Key Tool in Major Giving Fundraising events are often seen as high-effort, low-return endeavors when it comes to major giving. However, when structured strategically, events can be powerful relationship-building tools that […]
Does your organization think fundraising is something that happens over there…?
When the organization accepts, understands, and embraces the work of the development department, the ability to engage more donors in better ways increases substantially—and the whole institution benefits. So, tell me, what is that you do in your department? That phrase, spoken with a bit (or a lot) of disdain, is often directed to development […]
Dark Side of Fundraising: How to Avoid Pitfalls and Build Donor Trust
Here’s one fundraising takeaway I’d love to share: do NOT go to the Dark Side of fundraising, go to the light!
MPW’s 2025 In & Out Fundraising List
Our team of experts is excited to share what we know will bring you fundraising success in 2025 and what you should leave behind in 2024. Leave us a comment below to let us know what you think is in or out in for fundraising this year!
Securing the Future of Education: Strategic Planning and Fundraising
Sustainable revenue models for educational institutions across the United States are becoming increasingly challenging to create and maintain. At Make Philanthropy Work, we urge student-serving organizations to consider integrating fundraising goals into their strategic plans to generate revenue long-term.
Crafting a Winning End-of-Year Giving Strategy
Preparing for end-of-year giving, or campaign season as we often call it, has a unique starting point for all organizations – I’m speaking toward those who have mid-level sophistication and an established routine end-of-year program.
Making the Case: A Development Team for the Long Haul
The why and the how of creating, cultivating, and keeping a development team long-term is no doubt, incredibly vague across the landscape of organizations facing rapid fundraising turnover.
We are excited to showcase how a fundraising team for the long haul will exponentially support your organization for years into the future – and practical ways to bring this into reality.
Unleashing Your Leadership’s Fundraising Potential
CEOs, Executive Directors, and Presidents play a significant role in an organization’s fundraising potential, and fundraising leaders who work with them can, in tandem, take development to a greater level of sophistication and effectiveness.