Dream Big with Your Capital Campaign

Our Custom Development Solutions (CDS) staff are constantly talking with many nonprofit organizations across the US and Canada. We provide our clients with feedback on how they can best conduct their fundraising and capital campaign operations. That professional objectivity is a luxury for us and a resource for our partner organizations. Why Should You Dream…

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Seize the Moment

When is the best time for an organization to begin a capital campaign? The truth is, it’s best to seize the moment and begin now! Read on to learn why, and be sure to check out Your Capital Campaign Timeline for even more on this topic. When Will You Be Ready? Most of our work…

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Consistent, Methodical Work

  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” –  2 Timothy 4:7 Why do some people seem to achieve the greatest heights?  What do they do differently than most people?  Are they more intelligent, physically stronger or more gifted or talented?  I think not.  They are…

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Fundraising: Donor Discovery Visits Find ‘Treasure’

What’s the most effective way to raise money? Special events, direct mail, phone calls? The reality that many board members of nonprofit organizations often find difficult to confront is that face-to-face visits remain the most effective strategy for fundraising, far outpacing special events, direct mail and telephone calls. Personal visits for fundraising fall into three…

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6 Parts of an Effective Fundraising Offer

In his video from 2015, Jeff Brooks from TrueSense Marketing explores the 40/40/20 rule of direct marketing and its role in fundraising. The 40/40/20 rule suggests that 40% of the success of a direct marketing campaign comes from the quality of your list, 40% from your request, and 20% from the creative. The video touches…

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Considering the Context – Lifecycle of a Social Issue

Few people would equate grantmaking with farming, but the comparison may be apt. Farmers adapt their crop decisions to different variables of soil and climate and develop a keen sense for when their crops are ripe and should be harvested. Like a farmer, a grantmaker must consider conditions, timing and ripeness to be effective. For…

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Connecting with People

In the fundraising consulting business, we deal with people every day. If we are to work with them effectively and successfully, we have to be able to make personal connections. Connecting with people allows us to create the conditions for our own success and the success of the organizations we strive to represent. Connecting with…

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