1. Effective Conference Fundraising & 2. Your CFC Ambassadors

By Two Blog Contributors on April 2, 2014

1.
Making Your Nonprofit Conference A Special Event
by Natalie Lewis

Keep your vendors happy; show others that they could really benefit from being one of your conference exhibitors, and there will be more vendors who will be wanting to “sign up.” Would you object to having those additional vendor fees ??

2.
Events In Private Homes: Part III – Solicitation
by Hank Lewis

Solicitation at a home event, asking attendees to write a check, depends on whether or not this is a first-time meeting for this group of attendees.

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1. The CFC, Nat’l Volunteer Week and Youth Service Day & 2. Building Blocks of Direct Mail

By Two Blog Contributors on March 26, 2014

Because of the time-sensitivity of the first article, we’ve moved the postings on “Events in Private Homes” to April 9. 1. The CFC and Leverage: National Volunteer Week & Global Youth Service Day by Bill Huddleston This year is the 40th anniversary of National Volunteer Week, and this year it runs from April 6-12th. The […]

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1. You Can Help Save the Combined Federal Campaign & 2. Dealing With Grant Deadliness

By Two Blog Contributors on March 19, 2014

1.
Proposed Changes to CFC Regulations Update: How You Can Help Save the Combined Federal Campaign – Part II
by Bill Huddleston

As I mentioned, last week, even after the Congressional Hearing, there has been no public response from the OPM staff to the concerns raised about the proposed regulations.

2.
How Do You Deal with Grant Deadlines?
by Jayme Sokolow

Deadlines are to proposal professionals as water is to fish. They are the lifeblood of our profession. Dealing with them effectively will make a big (positive) difference to your emotional well-being, and to your professional career.

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1. Statistics in Grant Proposals & 2. Intro to Planned Giving – Part II

By Two Blog Contributors on March 12, 2014

1.
Using Statistics Accurately/Effectively in Your Proposals
by Jayme Sokolow

Statistics can be used or abused, especially in grant proposals. However, there are steps you can take to use numbers accurately, and in ways that promote understanding.

2.
Events In Private Homes: Part I
Education? Cultivation? Solicitation? Stewardship?
by Hank Lewis

An Executive Director wrote that, “A donor has offered his home for a private event … [but that she (the ED) has] always shied away from these b/c no one can agree what the purpose/format should be….”

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1. Intro to Our New Series on Planned Giving & 2. A Piece on Mission Statements

By Two Blog Contributors on March 5, 2014

1. Introduction To Planned Giving – Part One by John Elbare If you have been involved in fund raising for any length of time, you have heard about planned giving, which, at first glance, may seem highly technical and downright geeky. You may have heard others say things like “We’re not ready for planned giving,” […]

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1. Our First Piece on Direct Mail & 2. Help Save the CFC !!

By Two Blog Contributors on February 26, 2014

#1.
Direct Mail, Direct Response: An Introduction
by Jonathan Howard

In the internet age, with a host of easy, cheap and fast electronic media from which to choose, why do major national charities still spend the time and money to request charitable donations by mail?

#2.
Proposed Changes to CFC Regulations Update: How You Can Help Save the Combined Federal Campaign – Part I
by Bill Huddleston

The summer was… when the outcry from the non-profit community resulted in the July Congressional hearing about the impact of the regulations as proposed by OPM.

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What’s Coming – The Next Seven Weeks of the Fundraising Blog

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on February 19, 2014

Welcoming the two new members of our writing team, Jon Howard & John Elbare

February 26:
Direct Mail, Direct Response: An Introduction
You Can Help Save the Combined Federal Campaign – Part I

March 5:
Introduction to Planned Giving – Part I
A Mission (Statement) Impossible

March 12:
Statistics In Grant Proposals
Events In Private Homes: Part I

March 19:
You Can Help Save the Combined Federal Campaign – Part II
How Do You Deal With Grant Deadlines

March 26:
Events In Private Homes: Part II
Building Blocks of Direct Mail

April 2:
Making Your Nonprofit Conference A Special (Fundraising) Event
Events In Private Homes: Part III

April 9:
How Many Development Staffers Do We Need to Attain Our Fundraising Goals?
Introduction to Planned Giving – Part II

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1. The Grant Proposal Team & 2. Compensation for Grant Writers

By Two Blog Contributors on February 12, 2014

#1
We’re All in This (Proposal) Together!
by Jayme Sokolow
… there are three important points that organizations should learn. “One, mission matters. Two, the people behind the mission matter. And three, passion for the mission can’t be taken for granted.

#2
The Ethics of Percentage-Based Compensation for Grant Writers – Part II
by Lynn deLearie

So, it is very clear that fundraising professional ethics do not allow percentage-based compensation, but WHY not? Why is this so strongly discouraged?

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1. Creating an Activities/Planning Calendar & 2. Evaluating a New Development Officer

By Two Blog Contributors on February 5, 2014

#1
Tracking The Progress Of A Fundraising Program – Part II
Creation of an Activities Calendar
by Tony Poderis

As previously noted, the only way to assess the progress of any fundraising process is when that process (the plan) has every step and component listed on a timeline … one that was agreed to by everyone before starting the process.

#2
Cost-per-dollar Raised:
Evaluating The Performance of a New Development Officer
by Hank Lewis

A question was raised (in a listserve) about evaluating the performance of a development officer who was hired within the last year,

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1. Ethics for Grant Writers & 2. Evaluating The Implementation of a Fundraising Program

By Two Blog Contributors on January 29, 2014

#1
The Ethics of Percentage-Based Compensation for Grant Writers – Part I
by Lynn deLearie.

Not too long ago, I met with a prospective client to discuss helping them start a grant program for their organization. As we were concluding the meeting, the question of compensation came up, and I was asked if I would accept a percentage of grant income that I raised.

#2
Tracking The Progress Of A Fundraising Program – Part I
by Tony Poderis

I thought that I had heard all there was ever to hear from beleaguered development professionals whose bosses are constantly on them for “not bringing in enough money.”

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