Professional Fundraising
How Supporters’ Holiday Shopping Can Help Your Nonprofit
The end of the year is critical for nonprofit fundraising. Approximately 30% of annual donations to charitable organizations occur in December, and 12% are made just in the last three days of the year! Given these statistics, it’s important for your nonprofit to strategically plan for this busy giving season. Many organizations focus heavily on…
Read More3 Necessities to Consider When Soliciting a Gift
In everyday life, asking for financial support or soliciting a gift is something many of us struggle with. When confronting someone with such delicate requests, we ask ourselves questions like: The truth is, asking for financial support is challenging in any context, and in many cases, the answers to these questions vary greatly. Here at…
Read MoreAdvocacy 101: Where to start
This week, I’ll be attending Habitat for Humanity’s Habitat on the Hill event in Washington, DC. I started attending years ago, when I worked for a local affiliate in Tennessee, and it remains one of my favorite events of the year. We’ll be celebrating the successes of Habitat affiliates around the country who have enhanced the…
Read MoreCampaign Meetings with Sizzle . . . and Efficiency
The first questions potential campaign volunteers pose often focus on time. Typical time commitments include prospect communication such as calling to set appointments, writing door-opener and follow-up letters, and actually making visits. These are time-consuming activities, and volunteers usually understand that they are essential and that only they can perform these duties.
Read MoreWhy are Campaign Report Meetings Important?
Capital campaigns are remarkable undertakings that require extraordinary effort from those involved, including the fundraising professionals who design and implement the campaign, as well as the organization’s professional staff, donors, and volunteers. This article outlines the steps involved in campaign report meetings for a large, membership based organization. In this type of campaign, a handful…
Read MorePreparing for a Campaign Feasibility and Planning Study
Every year, more and more non-profit organizations are preparing to enter into capital campaigns to construct or update facilities, build endowments, supplement operations, and pursue other financial goals. The more successful of these organizations will hire consulting firms to conduct a campaign feasibility and planning study. Identifying the best consulting firm for your organization is…
Read MoreFacebook Events: Why do they matter to your nonprofit?
At CDS we’re somewhat contrary when it comes to events as fundraisers because of the time and energy they can take to organize. However, they’re great friend-raisers and serve as a platform for you to build awareness in the community you serve beyond your core supporters.
Read More5 Steps for Building a Nonprofit Board That Works
Like Robert’s Rules of Orders that governs parliamentary procedures, or the Agendas and Minutes that move boards through the process of good management and top-notch record keeping, structure around board development can be a safeguard against the unimaginable. The viability of your organization depends on these basics of best practices in non-profit management. A Nominating…
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