Now is the time to start making plans to fund your mission. Did you know that 53.8% of nonprofits start planning their year-end appeal campaign in October? Did you know that 59.9% of nonprofits make between 1-3 donor “touches” for their year-end campaign? That campaign usually includes appeal letters! Did you know 28% of nonprofits raise 26-50% of their annual funds from their year-end ask? Would you like to be in that 28%? What could you do with those funds? To help you through the process, the entire month of October will be dedicated to Appeal letters.

Fundraising 101 is you start from within and work your way out. You start with you and your Board’s family and friends and work your way out. But what happens when you get through your family and friends? Using the purpose of an ideal donor allows you to no longer ask your friends and family for donations. You can move past that circle and out further in your community. Expanding your donor list brings in more funding.

The nonprofit industry as a whole hates the word “marketing”. It is a dirty word- never to be spoken. The only thing I can figure is that marketing is associated with for-profit business and nonprofits and their donors don’t like anything connected to the for-profit business. The problem is that…

One of the main solutions in dealing with difficult people is to have alternative solutions. For instance, if someone complains that a particular solution won’t work, first ask why. If they come up with a valid reason, then offer alternatives. If they continue to shoot down every suggestion you produce, ask them to come up with a solution.