Silent auctions can be a very effective way to raise many for non-profits… but they can also be time consuming and stressful if they’re not done the right way. In today’s podcast, we go over eight quick rules for more successful silent auctions, and show you how to keep your event organized and profitable. For even more tips on running auction even…

Planned giving is one of those things that most non-profits are interested in… but never really take the time to focus on. Setting up a planned giving program seems scary, complicated and time-consuming, so many non-profits put it on the back burner. The good news is that launching a successful planned giving program is possible for any non-profit …

One of the biggest changes in non-profit fundraising over the past three decades is the advent of cheap, powerful technology to help organizations communicate with donors and raise money online. Advances in non-profit technology have been a huge blessing for most organizations, but they have also been a curse, because many fundraisers can get overw…

Whether they know it or not, most non-profits in the United States are required to register in the states where they carry out fundraising solicitations. But what exactly constitutes a “fundraising solicitation?” and how do you know where your non-profit is required to register? Our guest today is one of the country’s foremost experts on charity re…

Crowdfunding is one of the fastest growing segments of the non-profit fundraising world… as well it should be. It is a powerful way to raise more money and expand the reach of your non-profit organization. Our guest on today’s podcast is Dana Ostomel, an expert in running successful crowdfunding campaigns. During our conversation, Dana provided som…

Do you know the power of telling great stories? Does your non-profit use storytelling to help it raise more money and build better relationships with donors? Our guest on today’s podcast is Vanessa Chase, an expert in non-profit storytelling. In addition to some great tips on collecting and sharing stories for your organization, Vanessa teaches us …

What do you think when you hear the words, “capital campaign?” Does that phrase send you dreaming of a new building for your organization, or perhaps the ability to hire new staff or buy new infrastructure? Or, like many fundraisers, does the idea of a capital campaign make you grind your teeth and stay up worrying at night? Our guest on today’s po…

The donor cultivation funnel isn’t just for offline fundraising. Non-profits can and should be building strong relationships with their donors online (including through e-mail, social media and on their organization’s website). Great online cultivation leads to more donors, bigger gifts, and better donor relationships. In today’s podcast, online fu…

Do you ever wonder if you are using your non-profit’s website correctly? Do you wish you could raise more money online? The truth is that most non-profit organizations do not understand the true fundraising purpose of their website and online presence. In today’s podcast, we talk about the real best use of your website when it comes to raising mone…

Using the four steps of the fundraising funnel are integral to building a sustainable development program at your non-profit. If you want to find new donors and keep them giving more and bigger gifts to your organization year after year, you have to understand and use the fundraising funnel. In this episode, we take a look at the four components of…

Every non-profit I have ever come across wants to find more major donors to support its work. How can an organization find, cultivate, and ask major donors for large gifts, particularly if the charity has only limited resources? Today on the podcast, we welcome Amy Eisenstein, AFCRE. Amy walks us through a step-by-step strategy for finding and enga…

Fundraising through the mail is one of the most popular yet misunderstood strategies in all of non-profit development. Writing great appeal letters is part art and part science. If it is done right, your organization can provide a significant boost to its bottom line. Today on the podcast, we welcome Mazarine Treyz to talk about how your non-profit…

We all know we should be stewarding our donors. Yet, donor retention rates for most non-profits remain abysmally low. Most organizations say they know that their current donors are their best prospects for future gifts, but so many still think a thank-you card is enough. On today’s episode of The Fundraising Authority Podcast, we welcome Pamela Gro…

One of the most common questions we receive from fundraisers is how to get a board of directors more enthusiastic about raising money. Is it really possible for board members to be excited about – and good at – fundraising? On today’s episode of The Fundraising Authority Podcast, we get answers from Gail Perry, author of Fired-Up Fundraising: Turn …

On this episode of The Fundraising Authority Podcast, we’re joined by the expert on fundraising with businesses and cause marketing, Joe Waters. If you think that fundraising with businesses is limited to seeking event sponsorships or perhaps a corporate grant, think again. In this info-packed episode, Joe Waters teaches us all about how to partner…

Today on the podcast, we welcome Heather Stewart from Activate Fundraising. Heather talked with me about small non-profits, and how they can leverage their limited time and resources to find and cultivate donors and sponsors. Believe it or not, in some ways, smaller non-profits have an advantage over larger organizations, because they can easily fi…

In this episode of The Fundraising Authority Podcast, we talk to Claire Axelrad from Clairification. Claire is the expert on how to build better relationships and raise more money through better thanking. That’s right… you can actually raise more money for your organization if you develop a better strategy for thanking your donors. In this episode,…

In this episode of The Fundraising Authority Podcast, we talk to Sandy Rees. Sandy is a well-known and well-respected fundraising consultant, coach and author, and the creator of the Get Fully Funded System for non-profits. During the podcast, Sandy and I talk about what it means to make fundraising a priority at your organization, as well as how s…

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about fundraising strategies and tactics. In this episode of the podcast, we take a look at five of the most common fundraising myths to see why they’re wrong and get tips on the right way to raise more money. Check out all five myths, and see if your non-profit has fallen victim to them! Note that The Fund…

In this episode of The Fundraising Authority Podcast, I talk with the amazing Andrea Kihlstedt, the co-founder of Asking Matters and the author of the new book Asking Styles: Harness Your Personal Fundraising Power. Andrea has come up with a new and, I think, essential tool for non-profit fundraisers: the Asking Styles Assessment, which helps fundr…