3 Case Studies That Prove That Nonprofit Direct Mail Still Works In 2019
I grew up with and in direct mail. I was fortunate to work at Reader’s Digest (RD) in Amsterdam right after college and it really shaped the rest of my career. I’ve always loved direct mail because you can measure results, but nothing beats seeing the boxes and boxes filled with responses coming back. I […]
Monthly Donations Should Be a No-Brainer
I just returned from the International Fundraising Congress held in Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands every October. It’s always a great gathering of some 1,000 individuals from 65+ countries who raise funds in their local countries, and sometimes outside of it as well. An added benefit is that I was able to visit some of my family and […]
If You Let ‘Bean Counters’ Call the Shots, Your Sustainer Program Could Suffer
… You’d think that every organization by now would be convinced that there are donors who are interested in supporting your organization by joining a sustainer program. … You’d think the tremendous feeling of excitement that these wonderful sustainers generate would permeate your organization. Well, unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, it’s the “financial […]
Top Characteristics Needed to Successfully Run a Nonprofit Sustainer Program
You’ve heard me say this before: ”Assign a driver!”—if you’re serious about growing your nonprofit sustainer program. Just one driver who pulls it all together and who makes sure the car keeps running and is being maintained to keep on running for a very long time. So, when I mentioned this at a recent conference, […]
8 Reasons to Start a Nonprofit Monthly Giving Program NOW
One of the key annual fundraising strategies I recommend you add (or rev up) this year is monthly giving. It’s one of the best ways I know to move the needle in improving your mid-level giving program, and to also serve as a pipeline to acquire new donors, upgrade current donors, and influence major and legacy giving. To […]
Sustainer Programs, Anyone?
I just got back from a tremendous few days in the Washington D.C. area, and I learned a lot about monthly sustainer programs. First, I was privileged to attend the Professional Face-to-Face Fundraisers Association meeting, where some 75 people listened to speakers on the latest trends in face-to-face sustainer fundraising and how one nonprofit tweaked […]
Can Monthly Giving Through Direct Withdrawals Work?
I was born and raised in the Netherlands where electronic bank payments, or direct withdrawals, were a way of life. Believe it or not, even credit cards there were required to be paid off every month, automatically, from your bank account. Things have changed there, but also here in the U.S. Now, the question, “can […]
How to Use the Power of the Phone in Your Fundraising Strategy
These days, there’s so much interest in new channels and the latest next “new shiny thing,” but did you know that there’s one medium you use everyday that has evolved tremendously over the past few years? That medium (the one that you’re holding in your hand right now or the one that’s very nearby!) is […]
How to Create a Smooth Monthly Giving ‘Drive’
I still come across many organizations that are actively trying to grow their monthly giving program, but they’re not sure who’s “running the show.” Nobody feels responsible. People wait until someone comes up with the next idea. Some think they only need to be focused on one aspect of monthly giving. Nobody is taking control […]
What to Do When Your Monthly Donors Click and Leave?
This problem doesn’t just occur with monthly donors, but with all donors. That last step, finishing the donation is the key. But often, the donor clicks through. They’re ready to make a gift, but for some mysterious reason, they leave. They never finish the donation. What can you do? Should you just let that donor […]
