What would you do with $20,447,633,199.37? Fund a new program? Hire more staff? Buy that new database software you desperately need? Our team here at Fundraising Report Card has $20,447,633,199.37 and we decided not to buy anything with it. Instead, we wrote some complex algorithms and made a free website to talk about nonprofit fundraising … Continue reading "New Year, New Benchmarks: How Does Your Organization Stack Up?". MORE
Angela Crist. Self-proclaimed “recovering nonprofit CEO, Angela Crist, joins us again to talk about the importance of professional photography. Kristina. Guest Post by Angela Crist. Have you ever pulled back on a marketing piece to avoid scrutiny for “spending too much on marketing”? MORE
Unlike other business-focused resources though, I have great empathy and understanding for the unique circumstances and challenges nonprofit organizations face. How then can we take what is considered best practice in the for-profit space and make use of it at your development shop? The post How to Improve and Develop Process at Your Nonprofit appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture MORE
Relationships are tricky. They’re also scientific. Many smart people have dedicated their lives to researching and understanding why human beings interact with one another. As fundraisers, we can leverage this research to inform how we approach raising major and planned gifts. The post Knapp’s Relational Model: The Key to Raising More Major (and Planned) Gifts appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Research MORE
Discover what this new podcast is all about, learn what data-driven fundraising is, how to build a data-driven culture, the basic metrics you’ll need to understand, and how to start using this at your nonprofit. Discover what this new podcast is all about, learn what data-driven fundraising is, how to build a data-driven culture, the basic … Continue reading "Introducing Metrics That Matter (MTM-S01E01)". MORE
Santa Fe, NM Photo Credit: Deena Davis. It’s Friday! Let’s dive right into the best articles, posts, tips, and more from around the world of marketing and fundraising. Today we have Instagram TV news, email marketing tips, and more. MORE
Season 2 is here and for this season Zach and Tim will be answering your questions. You can call in to leave a voicemail at (575) 815-4573 or write in to tim@imarketsmart.com. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Season 2 [00:35] Greg from Eugene, Oregon [02:52] Erica from Tasmania [11:02]. The post Your Questions: (575) 815-4573 (Season 2, Episode 1) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Podcast MORE
Today we’ll walk through 3 metrics you’ll absolutely want to share with your board members at the next annual meeting. These metrics come from our team’s experience presenting to dozens of boards over the past few years. The post 3 Key Fundraising Metrics Your Board Members Want to See at the Next Annual Meeting appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis MORE
$410 billion. Hooray! Right? Not so fast! Lots of folks are not so happy. So today I’m going to tell you what they are missing that makes them all wrong for being so salty. First, here are some of the downers I recently read and heard after the $410 billion figure was announced. . Holding pens. The biggest surge was in giving to holding pens such as foundations. Many philanthropists gave their money to their own foundations and donor-advised funds, not directly to charities. MORE
Rachel Clemens. Do you worry you’re being too intrusive when you ask for information about your supporters? Today, Rachel Clemens shares some tips on getting that information the right way. Kristina. Guest Post by Rachel Clemens of Mighty Citizen. MORE
Learn about the top fundraising metrics, why they are important, and what questions you should be asking that these metrics can help answer. Download the Metrics That Matter eBook found for free at FundraisingReportCard.com/book. Download your copy to follow along and find some tidbits we didn’t have time to cover on today’s episode. Click here … Continue reading "Fundraising Metrics 101 (Season 1, Episode 2)". MORE
If you have never been to a Waffle House, the title of this blog post made absolutely zero sense to you. If you have been to a Waffle House, then you know they have yummy hashbrowns. And you also know they can be ordered in a variety of delicious ways: Scattered on the grill (in other words, plain). MORE
Thomas Negron. Today, Thomas Negron joins us to stress the importance of locking your organization’s digital door and taking charge of your online accounts. Kristina. Guest Post by Thomas Negron. “I I don’t get the whole lock and key thing. Do I turn the key left? Do I turn it right? MORE
Let’s discuss apps, tools and other resources you could (and should) be using at your development shop to save time and reduce inefficiencies. The post 3 Tools Our For Profit Company Uses That Your Nonprofit Should Too Pt. 2 appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture MORE
Organizations of all sizes can benefit from analyzing their data. Here’s what your small shop could, and should, be doing. The post Fundraising Analytics for the Small Nonprofit appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis MORE
Learn just how important donor retention is and how to make smarter decisions to improve retention and donation revenue. Download the Metrics That Matter eBook at [link] Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Donor retention [02:00] Overall revenue impact? [03:10] 03:10] What mistakes do people make analyzing this data? [06:06] 06:06] Segmenting your data [06:46] … Continue reading "Beyond the Basics with Donor Retention (Season 1, Episode 5)". MORE
Earlier in this series we defined what each step is and how it functions within the larger “coming together” phase of relationship development. It may have felt a bit like we reviewed how to fall in love, but today we’ll get a bit more practical. The post Part 2 — Knapp’s Relational Model: The Key to Raising More Major (and Planned) Gifts appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Research MORE
Learn how to apply the concepts discussed in season 1 of the podcast by using the example of a direct mail campaign. Download the Metrics That Matter eBook at [link] Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Direct mail [01:47] Culture and infrastructure [02:52] Who should you send direct mail to? [04:27] 04:27] What is … Continue reading "Applying Concepts with Direct Mail Metrics (Season 1, Episode 6)". MORE
We are planning to refresh our website design later in the year, but there’s one thing we decided to get rid of sooner than later: the image slider we had at the top of our homepage. MORE
Philanthropy tends to be fairly transactional — I give you some money, you send me a year-end appeal — and less relational — I give you some money, you ask me about my life story and connection to your mission. This could be (and most likely is) a contributing factor to dismal donor retention rates. The post Three Steps to Build Meaningful Relationships in Life (and with Your Donors) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture MORE
“I’d like to meet you to update you / tell you what we do / tell you what we’ve been doing , etc.” ” I’ve had fundraisers approach me this way. It’s all about them and their organization. MORE
Goals are powerful, especially if you choose only a few. A laundry list is almost impossible to stay focused on. But if you choose two or three realistic, specific goals, and write them down, you are likely to achieve them. But first, make sure you set goals for what matters most. MORE
Yes, it is busy right now. Yes, we are in the midst of a heavy fundraising season, but in two weeks, when we all return to our offices after a brief holiday respite, it will be a clean 12 month slate for us to work with. The post Goal Setting for 2018: Three Metrics You Must Measure appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis MORE
Engaging with donors (just like I engage with my clients) takes thought, skill, and care. Your content — the materials you use to interact with your constituents en masse — carries great weight with them. The post Original Content is Crucial For Fundraising Success appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture MORE
The quest to become a data-driven nonprofit is not simple or easy. Use these three steps as guidelines. If you had a checklist for “becoming a data-driven organization,” these three steps would be on it. The post How to Become a Data-driven Nonprofit (in 3 Simple Steps) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis MORE
Fundraising plans, starting a major gifts program, engaging in a capital campaign and a host of other nonprofit initiatives are like caverns — they take time, diligence and patience to develop. The post Building a Fundraising Program Takes Time appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture MORE
Sadly, I’ve witnessed all of these but I truly believe #1 is the worst. Here are my top 10 traits of terrible fundraisers that drive major donors away: . Showing up late; 9. Failing to do something that was promised; 8. Talking about how great they are at raising money; 7. MORE
We are wrapping up the 13th session of the Communications Director Mentoring Program this month and preparing to work with the 14th class ( yes, we still have space available! ). MORE
Learn how to make better fundraising decisions by measuring ROI and donor lifetime value. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Frequency of donation [02:34] What is LTV not? [03:03] 03:03] Segmenting [05:30] Viability [08:03] Goal ratios? [11:19] 11:19] The Starbucks example [14:04] Profit margins? [19:35] 19:35] Customer satisfaction [21:17] Any forgotten channels? [22:19] MORE
“So many times the PR staff would schedule interviews with the big names in the agency but when they sat down with us they had no idea what they were talking about.” This was a major problem for live television or radio and resulted in producers calling on nonprofits with “subjects” they could trust. MORE
I need more submissions for our Day in the Life of a Nonprofit Communicator blog series! Won’t you please share all the things you do on a daily basis to make the world a better place ? MORE
Caroline Guy. Welcome to the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators! This series lets you describe your workday in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series! MORE
Measuring key metrics monthly provides the president to “move fast.” Take for instance a three month trend in donor lifetimes values. If month over month over month you see LTV decreasing it would be a sign that something is going on in the minds of your supporters. The post How Often Should You Measure Fundraising Metrics? appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis MORE
She told me others would say I was unprofessional. I was asked to lead a roundtable discussion at a conference recently. So I did. And afterward one of the attendees approached me as I got a cup of coffee in the sponsorship expo room. MORE
Angel Mills. Welcome to our latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators! This series lets you describe your workday in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series! MORE
Does this shift in thinking mean that fundraising is more science than art? I don’t think so. It could be that the entire argument is actually broken. Successful fundraising relies on neither art nor science to perform its best. Let’s add another phrase to the conversation: evidence based. The post Art vs. Science in Fundraising? It’s Neither. Try Evidence Based. appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis MORE
Are you struggling to inspire your readers? It may be your style of writing. Many of the words we use in our writing would never come out of our mouths in everyday conversation. You need to write like you’re in a conversation as opposed to a lecture. Who wants to be lectured to? MORE
Nonprofit leaders often complain about limited resources — and with good reason. After all, even the best-run nonprofits lack the money or the staff to accomplish everything they set out to do. But while money is tight, there’s one resource that is almost always in ample supply: words. MORE
Whereas most nonprofits send the same old mail to each and every donor (a newsletter, an annual report, a solicitation), the “learn from your experiences” organizations send out something different: they survey their donors. The post Learn from Experiences (and Build Stronger Relationships as a Result) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture MORE
If you just started your nonprofit communications job OR if you have a communications job, but no formal communications background, our FREE webinar tomorrow is for YOU ! Join us tomorrow for: What Every Newbie and Accidental Nonprofit Communications Director Needs to Know Now. MORE
Jenna Czaplewski. Welcome to our latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators! This series lets you describe your workday in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series! MORE
Learn why Donor Acquisition Cost is so important, how to gather this data, and how to use this data to make better decisions. Mentioned in this episode: DAC Cheat Sheet: [link] DAC Excel Calculation Template: [link] What is overhead: [link] Expenses: [link] Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Donor Acquisition Cost [01:40] What is … Continue reading "Diving in with Donor Acquisition Cost (Season 1, Episode 3)". MORE
Another week, another change to Facebook. ( See Mark Zuckerberg’s post from January 11, 2018.). This one actually may make a big difference in how nonprofits use the networking site though. In case you haven’t heard, Facebook is changing what you see on your news feed. MORE
Fundraising Report Card
JUNE 19, 2018
Let’s discuss apps, tools and other resources you could (and should) be using at your development shop to save time and reduce inefficiencies. The post 3 Tools Our For Profit Company Uses That Your Nonprofit Should Too Pt. 2 appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture
Fundraising Report Card
JUNE 13, 2018
Season 2 is here and for this season Zach and Tim will be answering your questions. You can call in to leave a voicemail at (575) 815-4573 or write in to tim@imarketsmart.com. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Season 2 [00:35] Greg from Eugene, Oregon [02:52] Erica from Tasmania [11:02]. The post Your Questions: (575) 815-4573 (Season 2, Episode 1) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Podcast
Fundraising Report Card
JUNE 12, 2018
Unlike other business-focused resources though, I have great empathy and understanding for the unique circumstances and challenges nonprofit organizations face. How then can we take what is considered best practice in the for-profit space and make use of it at your development shop? The post How to Improve and Develop Process at Your Nonprofit appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture
Fundraising Report Card
MARCH 6, 2018
Does this shift in thinking mean that fundraising is more science than art? I don’t think so. It could be that the entire argument is actually broken. Successful fundraising relies on neither art nor science to perform its best. Let’s add another phrase to the conversation: evidence based. The post Art vs. Science in Fundraising? It’s Neither. Try Evidence Based. appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis
Fundraising Report Card
APRIL 10, 2018
Today we’ll walk through 3 metrics you’ll absolutely want to share with your board members at the next annual meeting. These metrics come from our team’s experience presenting to dozens of boards over the past few years. The post 3 Key Fundraising Metrics Your Board Members Want to See at the Next Annual Meeting appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis
Fundraising Report Card
MAY 30, 2018
Learn how to apply the concepts discussed in season 1 of the podcast by using the example of a direct mail campaign. Download the Metrics That Matter eBook at [link] Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Direct mail [01:47] Culture and infrastructure [02:52] Who should you send direct mail to? [04:27] 04:27] What is … Continue reading "Applying Concepts with Direct Mail Metrics (Season 1, Episode 6)".
Fundraising Report Card
JANUARY 8, 2018
Fundraising plans, starting a major gifts program, engaging in a capital campaign and a host of other nonprofit initiatives are like caverns — they take time, diligence and patience to develop. The post Building a Fundraising Program Takes Time appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture
Fundraising Report Card
APRIL 3, 2018
Relationships are tricky. They’re also scientific. Many smart people have dedicated their lives to researching and understanding why human beings interact with one another. As fundraisers, we can leverage this research to inform how we approach raising major and planned gifts. The post Knapp’s Relational Model: The Key to Raising More Major (and Planned) Gifts appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Research
Fundraising Report Card
MAY 2, 2018
Learn how to make better fundraising decisions by measuring ROI and donor lifetime value. Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Frequency of donation [02:34] What is LTV not? [03:03] 03:03] Segmenting [05:30] Viability [08:03] Goal ratios? [11:19] 11:19] The Starbucks example [14:04] Profit margins? [19:35] 19:35] Customer satisfaction [21:17] Any forgotten channels? [22:19]
Fundraising Report Card
MAY 1, 2018
Earlier in this series we defined what each step is and how it functions within the larger “coming together” phase of relationship development. It may have felt a bit like we reviewed how to fall in love, but today we’ll get a bit more practical. The post Part 2 — Knapp’s Relational Model: The Key to Raising More Major (and Planned) Gifts appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Research
Fundraising Report Card
FEBRUARY 27, 2018
Measuring key metrics monthly provides the president to “move fast.” Take for instance a three month trend in donor lifetimes values. If month over month over month you see LTV decreasing it would be a sign that something is going on in the minds of your supporters. The post How Often Should You Measure Fundraising Metrics? appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis
Fundraising Report Card
APRIL 18, 2018
Learn why Donor Acquisition Cost is so important, how to gather this data, and how to use this data to make better decisions. Mentioned in this episode: DAC Cheat Sheet: [link] DAC Excel Calculation Template: [link] What is overhead: [link] Expenses: [link] Click here to listen on YouTube! Topic Timestamps Donor Acquisition Cost [01:40] What is … Continue reading "Diving in with Donor Acquisition Cost (Season 1, Episode 3)".
Fundraising Report Card
APRIL 17, 2018
Learn about the top fundraising metrics, why they are important, and what questions you should be asking that these metrics can help answer. Download the Metrics That Matter eBook found for free at FundraisingReportCard.com/book. Download your copy to follow along and find some tidbits we didn’t have time to cover on today’s episode. Click here … Continue reading "Fundraising Metrics 101 (Season 1, Episode 2)".
Fundraising Report Card
DECEMBER 12, 2017
Engaging with donors (just like I engage with my clients) takes thought, skill, and care. Your content — the materials you use to interact with your constituents en masse — carries great weight with them. The post Original Content is Crucial For Fundraising Success appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture
Fundraising Report Card
NOVEMBER 28, 2017
Philanthropy tends to be fairly transactional — I give you some money, you send me a year-end appeal — and less relational — I give you some money, you ask me about my life story and connection to your mission. This could be (and most likely is) a contributing factor to dismal donor retention rates. The post Three Steps to Build Meaningful Relationships in Life (and with Your Donors) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture
Fundraising Report Card
APRIL 3, 2018
Discover what this new podcast is all about, learn what data-driven fundraising is, how to build a data-driven culture, the basic metrics you’ll need to understand, and how to start using this at your nonprofit. Discover what this new podcast is all about, learn what data-driven fundraising is, how to build a data-driven culture, the basic … Continue reading "Introducing Metrics That Matter (MTM-S01E01)".
Fundraising Report Card
JANUARY 30, 2018
Whereas most nonprofits send the same old mail to each and every donor (a newsletter, an annual report, a solicitation), the “learn from your experiences” organizations send out something different: they survey their donors. The post Learn from Experiences (and Build Stronger Relationships as a Result) appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture
Fundraising Report Card
JANUARY 23, 2018
What would you do with $20,447,633,199.37? Fund a new program? Hire more staff? Buy that new database software you desperately need? Our team here at Fundraising Report Card has $20,447,633,199.37 and we decided not to buy anything with it. Instead, we wrote some complex algorithms and made a free website to talk about nonprofit fundraising … Continue reading "New Year, New Benchmarks: How Does Your Organization Stack Up?".
Fundraising Report Card
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Yes, it is busy right now. Yes, we are in the midst of a heavy fundraising season, but in two weeks, when we all return to our offices after a brief holiday respite, it will be a clean 12 month slate for us to work with. The post Goal Setting for 2018: Three Metrics You Must Measure appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Analysis
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 20, 2018
If you have never been to a Waffle House, the title of this blog post made absolutely zero sense to you. If you have been to a Waffle House, then you know they have yummy hashbrowns. And you also know they can be ordered in a variety of delicious ways: Scattered on the grill (in other words, plain).
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 6, 2018
Are you struggling to inspire your readers? It may be your style of writing. Many of the words we use in our writing would never come out of our mouths in everyday conversation. You need to write like you’re in a conversation as opposed to a lecture. Who wants to be lectured to?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 21, 2018
Thomas Negron. Today, Thomas Negron joins us to stress the importance of locking your organization’s digital door and taking charge of your online accounts. Kristina. Guest Post by Thomas Negron. “I I don’t get the whole lock and key thing. Do I turn the key left? Do I turn it right?
iMarketSmart
JUNE 6, 2018
She told me others would say I was unprofessional. I was asked to lead a roundtable discussion at a conference recently. So I did. And afterward one of the attendees approached me as I got a cup of coffee in the sponsorship expo room.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 7, 2018
“So many times the PR staff would schedule interviews with the big names in the agency but when they sat down with us they had no idea what they were talking about.” This was a major problem for live television or radio and resulted in producers calling on nonprofits with “subjects” they could trust.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 22, 2018
Santa Fe, NM Photo Credit: Deena Davis. It’s Friday! Let’s dive right into the best articles, posts, tips, and more from around the world of marketing and fundraising. Today we have Instagram TV news, email marketing tips, and more.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MARCH 19, 2018
Jenna Czaplewski. Welcome to our latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators! This series lets you describe your workday in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series!
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JANUARY 2, 2018
Goals are powerful, especially if you choose only a few. A laundry list is almost impossible to stay focused on. But if you choose two or three realistic, specific goals, and write them down, you are likely to achieve them. But first, make sure you set goals for what matters most.
iMarketSmart
MAY 30, 2018
Sadly, I’ve witnessed all of these but I truly believe #1 is the worst. Here are my top 10 traits of terrible fundraisers that drive major donors away: . Showing up late; 9. Failing to do something that was promised; 8. Talking about how great they are at raising money; 7.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 14, 2018
We are planning to refresh our website design later in the year, but there’s one thing we decided to get rid of sooner than later: the image slider we had at the top of our homepage.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MARCH 22, 2018
Angela Crist. Self-proclaimed “recovering nonprofit CEO, Angela Crist, joins us again to talk about the importance of professional photography. Kristina. Guest Post by Angela Crist. Have you ever pulled back on a marketing piece to avoid scrutiny for “spending too much on marketing”?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MAY 24, 2018
Nonprofit leaders often complain about limited resources — and with good reason. After all, even the best-run nonprofits lack the money or the staff to accomplish everything they set out to do. But while money is tight, there’s one resource that is almost always in ample supply: words.
iMarketSmart
JUNE 18, 2018
$410 billion. Hooray! Right? Not so fast! Lots of folks are not so happy. So today I’m going to tell you what they are missing that makes them all wrong for being so salty. First, here are some of the downers I recently read and heard after the $410 billion figure was announced. . Holding pens. The biggest surge was in giving to holding pens such as foundations. Many philanthropists gave their money to their own foundations and donor-advised funds, not directly to charities.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 19, 2018
We are wrapping up the 13th session of the Communications Director Mentoring Program this month and preparing to work with the 14th class ( yes, we still have space available! ).
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MARCH 7, 2018
Rachel Clemens. Do you worry you’re being too intrusive when you ask for information about your supporters? Today, Rachel Clemens shares some tips on getting that information the right way. Kristina. Guest Post by Rachel Clemens of Mighty Citizen.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 18, 2018
I need more submissions for our Day in the Life of a Nonprofit Communicator blog series! Won’t you please share all the things you do on a daily basis to make the world a better place ?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JANUARY 16, 2018
Another week, another change to Facebook. ( See Mark Zuckerberg’s post from January 11, 2018.). This one actually may make a big difference in how nonprofits use the networking site though. In case you haven’t heard, Facebook is changing what you see on your news feed.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MAY 14, 2018
Caroline Guy. Welcome to the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators! This series lets you describe your workday in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series!
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
APRIL 16, 2018
Angel Mills. Welcome to our latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators! This series lets you describe your workday in your own words. We’d love to feature YOU in this series!
iMarketSmart
JUNE 1, 2018
“I’d like to meet you to update you / tell you what we do / tell you what we’ve been doing , etc.” ” I’ve had fundraisers approach me this way. It’s all about them and their organization.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 13, 2018
If you just started your nonprofit communications job OR if you have a communications job, but no formal communications background, our FREE webinar tomorrow is for YOU ! Join us tomorrow for: What Every Newbie and Accidental Nonprofit Communications Director Needs to Know Now.
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