Communications and Networking
Capital Campaign Essentials: Strong Leadership
There are four essential elements to every successful capital campaign. In our Capital Campaign Essentials series, we provide a quick overview of each of these four elements so that you can successfully grow your organization’s fundraising influence. This article focuses on the critical importance of strong leadership in a capital campaign. Check out our other…
Read MoreAsking for, and Receiving, Money
Whether you’re fundraising for nonprofit organizations such as the YMCA or raising money for your own organization, it’s vital to know how to properly ask for and receive money. Money doesn’t grow on trees, nor does it drop off like leaves in the fall! If we need monetary contributions to help a worthy cause, we…
Read MoreAnniversaries and Capital Campaigns: A Winning Combination
Is your organization celebrating a special anniversary in the near future? Are you considering a capital campaign? If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, you have the potential to increase awareness of your organization and add or upgrade donors! The celebration of your fifth, tenth, twentieth or another anniversary can attract increased media…
Read MoreAnatomy of the Leadership Gift Phase
When you’re starting a capital campaign for your organization, it’s important to not only begin with the largest gifts, but also to recruit your top givers as leaders in the campaign. This is what we at CDS call the Leadership Gift Phase. The Leadership Gift Phase is the single most important activity of the campaign,…
Read MoreBoosting Your Campaign’s Annual Support
Have you recently found yourself in charge of running or developing your organization’s annual fund campaign? Are you looking at ways to bolster your annual support? Do you ever wonder if your organization is pursuing the most effective path to raising annual support? No matter which stage or circumstance you find yourself in, taking a…
Read MoreHow to Cultivate Stronger Relationships
Good friendships get better with time, especially if you put in the work to nurture them. Likewise, to achieve success for your organization, it’s vital both to cultivate new potential connections and strengthen your existing ones. Read on to learn how to cultivate stronger relationships with your board members, donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Spark…
Read MoreWhat the Development Job Postings Don’t Say
Not all personal traits and skills can be included in a resume.
Read MoreWhere Do We Go From Here—One Person’s Thoughts
A reporter from a national publication recently called me, as they frequently do at the end of the year, to ask “What will happen in fundraising in the next year?” Everyone is always wondering what is going to happen in the future, just like they were wondering what would happen after the recent presidential election. …
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