by Cyndi Lauren | Aug 21, 2018 | communications, development and fundraising, Fresh Eyes, fundraising, Making Money, messaging, Nonprofit operations, Protecting Yourself
I’m sorry, its going to be a no. As fundraisers, we spend tons of time working hard to get donor prospects to say yes to our solicitations. We crave the check in the envelope and watch the online donor daily totals get larger and larger. I’ve been there,...
by Cyndi Lauren | Jul 31, 2018 | Business - Consulting Services, communications, Nonprofit operations
Delete, delete, delete- that is my morning email routine. Sometimes I feel (a little) bad about not even bothering with some of them; someone took the time and effort to write them, add images and send out. But, gosh, sooo many, I simply have to be ruthless as I look...
by Cyndi Lauren | Jul 10, 2018 | Nonprofit operations
What is a Story? Stories are about change, how something or someone has changed as a result of something that comes into their lives. It is about people, regular people and extraordinary people. Often, though, telling a good story in a good way can be challenging-...
by Cyndi Lauren | Jun 19, 2018 | communications, Fresh Eyes, messaging, Nonprofit operations
The tone and language you use in your fundraising communications can have a profound impact on both your open rates, and your reply rates. Being sensitive to your audience and communicating with them in words and phrases they use themselves makes connecting...
by Cyndi Lauren | Jun 7, 2018 | communications, development and fundraising, Fresh Eyes, messaging, Nonprofit operations
Developing Your Message Everyone is always telling you to hone your messages to donors and prospects, but seldom tell how to do it. You know you do urgent and important work- you are out to change the world to make it better. You know that, your members know that,...
by Cyndi Lauren | May 10, 2018 | annual gala, development and fundraising, Making Money, Nonprofit operations
Ok, its that time of year, again. Pay for the tickets, get a babysitter, get dressed, head out: Look for signs: parking, ballroom, bathroom Stand in line to check in & get table number Stand in line at the bar Chicken or veggie pasta: both tragic It’s too...
by Cyndi Lauren | Apr 18, 2018 | communications, development and fundraising, Nonprofit operations
Messaging: a very hot topic in nonprofit development: are you getting it right? What is messaging? How does it work, abd How does it work best? Let’s start with a definition: What is a message? Dictionary.com: Noun: a communication containing some information,...
by Cyndi Lauren | Apr 10, 2018 | communications, development and fundraising, donor advice, Fresh Eyes, Making Money, Nonprofit operations
Thank You As hard as you work to attract a new donor, you still need to be sure you keep your current donors interested in what you are doing enough to continue to donate. A prompt, sincere thank you is the one of most effective ways to do just that. * (*aside from...
by Cyndi Lauren | Apr 2, 2018 | communications, Nonprofit operations, Strategic Planning
What is brainstorming? Brainstorming is using our collective brains and ideas to answer a question or solve a problem. Bringing a small group together to tackle and issue that is important all of you to jointly address a problem can have many benefits. Having a few...
by Cyndi Lauren | Mar 22, 2018 | communications, development and fundraising, Making Money, Nonprofit operations
There are several basic truths about fundraising- It is not always the glamorous black tie gala with trips to the French Riviera hosted at the nicest place in town. It is not sending out an email to everyone and getting lots of money by return mail. It is not writing...
