By Andy Ragone A fundraiser told me a story not long ago. She'd sent a simple invitation to a longtime donor—coffee, nothing more. The kind of meeting that should have slipped neatly into a morning. Instead, the donor sent back an emoji, a tight little grimace that said everything without saying a word. It wasn't personal. It rarely is. At least that donor replied! Most donors don't wake up hoping to slip into a corner booth and talk through another pitch. They don't crave fo

By Andy Ragone The world of fundraising is changing. Fast. It's no longer enough to be the person who asks for gifts. Donors today want to do more than give  — they want to belong . They want to see their values reflected in the causes they support. After all, they got involved with your organization because they knew they couldn't do it by themselves. And they want someone who can help them make a difference in a smart, lasting way. That's where the role of philanthropic adv

By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM I met a donor a few years ago at a little coffee shop on a chilly morning. She ambled in, looking tired and...

Sometimes the Best Help Is Knowing When to Get Out of the Way By Kimberly Jetton, MNM, CFRE One of the biggest myths in nonprofit work is...

When you listen, everything changes In Part 1, I wrote about how I used to approach major gift fundraising: armed with a campaign plan, a...

...plus bonus material from the museum of my former mistakes. By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM It's Not About Your Pitch—it's About Their...

Add these seven smarter "asks" to your fundraising toolkit: By Andy Ragone, CGPP Most nonprofits ask for cash because it’s simple. But...

What Every Board Member Needs to Know By Andy Ragone, CGPP Most fundraising programs stick to the familiar—annual appeals, galas, and...

By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM Are You Pushing Your Donors Away? Do you truly value your donors? Not just in theory, not just in the...

By Javier Reyes, Cassandra Reyes, and Andy Ragone We may think we know this relationship stuff. We might be relational people. But do we...

By Andy Ragone Planned giving isn’t just a line item in a fundraising campaign. It’s something far deeper, richer—a relational journey....

By Wayne Olson After I published the video, "How to Lose $1 Million," I received many calls and emails from people asking about losing...

By Wayne Olson An organization I am familiar with is about to lose a major donation. As fundraisers (or in business, too), we are always...

By Wayne Olson We spend more of our day with our boss and coworkers than we do with our spouse and children. Yet, we spend far less time...

Creating a planned giving program can be more than we bargained for, but it's still worth the effort. What might a team look like? by...

Here are 5 Building Blocks You Need By Kimberly Jetton, MNM, CFRE Many nonprofits I speak to understand that a vibrant planned giving...

Marketing is important, but it's not enough. Not even close. By Andy Ragone Some have recently shared this sentiment with me: "We're...

By Kimberly Jetton. Pleiades Nonprofit Advisors Presents Spanish Estate Planning Seminars and Stewardship: A Unique Opportunity to Engage...

By Wayne Olson, Wayne Olson Consulting Want to add power to your day? Add a little perspective. Too often we get up, get moving and...

Our greatest bequest prospects may not be who we think. By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM Years ago, I heard a donor story from the CEO of an...