Wild Woman Fundraising

People usually dread getting appeal letters. They want to trash them. But every once in awhile, someone opens one. And then you’ve got a chance. You might get them to read past the first paragraph. And possibly, do more than glance at the picture.

Imagine if people looked forward to getting your appeal letter. Imagine if they were excited to get your grant proposal!

Pam Grow has put together a fantastic post about what foundation directors want. It’s a video. From 501videos. And I love it because; 1. It talks about how foundation directors like to see a good relationship between the executive director of the nonprofit and the development director. I do not usually see this. Do you? [...]

The Americans for the Arts has just done a significant, comprehensive look at the impact that the nonprofit arts have on our economy, and our arts programs add up to $135.2 BILLION more dollars for the economy.

So. You’re working for a social services nonprofit. You’re writing a grant. You’re stuck. How do you show the funder the magnitude of the need? Read on! Or what if you’re the communications person? If you serve vulnerable populations and you can’t put pictures of the people you really serve in your annual report? You’re [...]

I’ve been watching Givewell for the past couple of years, because I think they’ve been trying to take on a serious issue with accountability and transparency for nonprofits.

Does your board suffer from one of these lizard brain reactions?

Don’t ship on time. Late is the first step to never.
Procrastinate, cling that you need to be perfect.

I am so excited to present to you my interview with Charlotte Beauvoisin, who writes Diary of a Muzungu, a UK citizen working in Uganda. Her blog has been featured on Lonely Planet since 2009. For several years, she worked as a volunteer with the Ugandan Conservation Foundation, and now works in a tourism company [...]

What if we could teach people via continuing education what we would recommend that they do anyway? What if we could combine our brainpower and help people use all of our experience, skills, and knowledge to become the rockstar fundraising dream team that they needed to help get their cause the most money possible for their cause, and build relationships with donors that would sustain them for years?

Now, if you’re like me, you have grants heaped on your plate along with 100 other things, like marketing your nonprofit, events, major gifts, house parties, appeals, etc. Oh yeah, and social media too.

All of which could be full time jobs in and of themselves! So sometimes when you go to look for grants it’s hard to remember everything.

Here’s where I get all “Transparency rocks!” And show you one of my board reports. Also, if you want to rebrand your nonprofit, you are going to love the Free Nonprofit Brand Report from Harvard University that I’m including here. You’re welcome.