By: Dan Campbell Senior Auctioneer & Consultant Raising Paddles 2025 is just upon us, and as you think about your mission focus for the new year, it is likely time to start thinking about meeting your fundraising goals. Managing your time and energy towards fundraising is an imperative, as you decide which fundraising [...]
By: Erin Williams, Professional Fundraising Auctioneer & Consultant As we reflect on the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, one trend was unmistakable: donors were eager to return to in-person fundraising events. Many nonprofits saw a "bumper gala" year, breaking records and raising more money than ever before. Now, as we approach 2025, the question [...]
By: Shannon Eason, Fundraising Auctioneer Gen Z: The New Kids on the Block! There's a new generation making waves, and they're called Gen Z. They're young, they're online all the time, and they care about making the world a better place. Nonprofits need to pay attention to them because they're the future of giving! [...]
By: Dan Campbell, Fundraising Auctioneer The world of fundraising has become harder as we compete with other spending habits of our donors. The economy has tightened wallets, interest rates have risen, and businesses have struggled to maintain their success from just a few years ago. Where do we go to retain the level of [...]
By: Erin Williams, Fundraising Auctioneer Philanthropy has become an increasingly important aspect of economic development, yet age differences and social characteristics often drive donor behavior. Generational differences in giving behavior are based on donors’ altruistic motivations and their concern for social, political, and economic stability. These differences manifest in donors’ attitudes toward giving, their [...]
By: Scott Jones, MPA, CFRE, CAI, BAS Effective storytelling is a powerful tool for nonprofit fundraisers, transforming statistical data and white paper narratives into compelling stories that resonate with donors on an emotional level. The key is to simplify the message, making it as digestible and appealing as a 'juicy cheeseburger' rather than an [...]
By: Scott Jones, MPA, CFRE, CAI, BAS Expressing gratitude is a powerful way to strengthen relationships, especially with donors. Showing appreciation not only demonstrates that you value your donors but also makes them feel like an essential part of your team. Personalized thank you messages can create goodwill and increase donor engagement. Here are [...]
By: Scott Jones, MPA, CFRE, CAI, BAS Nonprofits are often charged with executing a program evaluation to assess the impact and outcomes of existing programs or initiatives. Program evaluations are leveraged for several reasons by the fundraising professionals. Fundraising professionals have determined that implementing program evaluations can be extremely purposeful. Have you ever considered [...]
By: Shannon Eason I was doing an introductory call with a new client. Something they said really resonated with me and I wondered, "Why aren't I hearing this more often?" Yes, you're wondering what they said, aren't you? "Our event last year was....well, forgettable. How do we make our event this year UNforgettable?" That's a [...]
By: Erin Williams I recently read "The Seven Faces of Philanthropy". This way of analyzing a donor's motives is very effective for fundraisers because it provides a framework for understanding the diverse motivations and personas of donors, enabling fundraisers to tailor their approach, improve communication, and build stronger relationships, ultimately leading to more successful [...]
