Imagine meeting someone for the first time and immediately asking them for a favor. Chances are you wouldn't do that. So why do you do that with donors...asking for money before you've had a proper conversation. Donor cultivation is about building trust, showcasing the value of your work, and making the donor feel connected to the mission before asking them for a financial commitment.

Knowing your audience gets rid of the problems and complications that I know so many nonprofit leaders struggle with. If you want to find your donors, you have to think first about your ABCs. Who do you have Access to that Believes in what you do, and what is that person’s Capacity?

Matching gifts are a great way to rocket up the value of gifts given to any campaign, but they sometimes feel out of reach for small nonprofits. Let’s fix that.

Before we bake, we’ve got to know the recipe. This week, we’re talking about how to know what to aim for in your spring campaign.

Sometimes board members just plain don’t want to touch fundraising, but even board members who don’t have networks to solicit can help. I’ve heard every objection in the book; here’s a manual for addressing it.

Have you tried pairing board members up with potential donors?

If you want your board to fundraise successfully, you have to teach them to be successful fundraisers.