March 2024 Dear Friend, Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Rev. Rudy Rasmus, the esteemed Co-Lead Pastor Emeritus of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Downtown Houston. The…
Fundraising is crucial for churches to sustain their ministries, with funds supporting outreach, operations, and spiritual growth. However, finding adequate resources is a challenge, requiring innovative engagement strategies for potential…
February 16, 2024 Dear Friend, I recently had the privilege of speaking with Reverend Dr. Vance P. Ross of Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta, and I…
Newer Development Officers and CEO’s ask me all the time, “What are the top 10 fundraising strategies I should know?” They ask because they want to be better at what…
Before asking for programmatic financial support—writing a proposal—you should have a well-developed description of the program—a Goals Grid. I say this for three reasons: 1) It gets all of the…
"President Donald Trump’s effort to steal the 2020 presidential election fell short. Now Republicans across the country are promoting changes to laws and personnel that could allow him — or…
Communication with mid-level and major donors is key to an organization’s fundraising success and long-term sustainability. The more personal with the highest levels of leadership—executives and board trustees—the better. This…
Often, when I’m presenting on fundraising to religious organizations and educational institutions, “How do we get current donors to give more money?” is a common question. The conversation usually goes…
It's terrible how some are attempting to restrict voting rights in some districts. This is a clear and direct attack on the democratic values of this nation. So, like me,…
The need for strong donor connection is evident—it creates sustainability, increases size of gifts, creates donor loyalty, and establishes long-term credibility. Without deep donor connections, most nonprofits fail over time…