Your Donors Feel’n like Transactions? 8 Signs and Solutions
I want to give with my head and my heart so I want to know how a nonprofit will use the funds, how well managed the nonprofit is, and who it’s helping — the impact of my gift. There’s nothing wrong with a transaction. When I buy gas, I don’t need to develop a deep […]
Last-Chance Giving Window Before New Tax Rules Take Effect
The bottom line: donors who wait until 2026 will lose significant tax leverage. For decades, tax policy has shaped donor behavior, often spurring generosity at year-end when individuals consider both their philanthropic goals and tax liabilities. Now the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has reshaped charitable giving rules in the United States. For this […]
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 […]
Bequests Are Timeless: Why Now’s the Moment to Prioritize Legacy Giving
Economic uncertainty can slow down many things, but it doesn’t stop generosity, especially the kind rooted in legacy. At Make Philanthropy Work, we believe gift planning is one of the most resilient fundraising strategies, especially bequests. While annual gifts may fluctuate with economic conditions, donors’ long-term commitments often remain steady or grow. That’s why we’re […]
5 Ways to Know If You Have a Legacy Fundraising Operation
The donors of today are searching for meaningful stories and engagement, want to be listened to, and need to understand how they can make an impact. In the movie, No Country for Old Men, Tommy Lee Jones Character, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, laments to Ellis that he is feeling outmatched. Barry Corbin’s character, Ellis then retorts, “What […]
Look in Your Own Fundraising Yard for Gifts
Stop looking at your neighbor’s lawn. Just too many nonprofits think the grass is greener with someone else’s mission, donors, or…fill in the blank. Not true, most of the time.
Attracting and Stewarding Donor-Advised Fund Holders
Donor-advised funds are top of mind for all of us working in fundraising, and those who choose to invest via a DAF should receive ample, individualized attention from organizations to cultivate their involvement over time. With DAFs on a consistent rise across the philanthropic landscape (according to the 2023 DAF Report from the National Philanthropic Trust, grantmaking from DAFs has more than doubled in the last five years – check out our previous post on Five Major Shifts in Fundraising Over the Last Five Years to learn what other areas you should spotlight) and many donors and organizations struggling to navigate this shift, attracting stewarding DAF holders in ways that address their specific needs and concerns should be a top goal in your stewardship plan.
Planning Your Fundraising Goals: Start with the End in Mind
Planning your fundraising goals when a new fiscal year approaches can be intimidating. We repeatedly hear questions about prioritizing what people, resources, systems, and more need attention and support.
When There’s a Crisis, Stay in Contact with Your Donors
John talks about two important lessons he learned in times of crisis and gives a bit of inspiration and inoculation against pessimism and panic of uncertain times.
Building a Culture of Philanthropy: Unmasking the Fundraising Process
As a development leader, one of your roles is to help your colleagues understand that your work is not magic or some ability-only fundraiser process. If there is a disconnect in your organization between development and other departments, it’s probably because they don’t know what your work involves.