You Can’t Just Ask For Money !!

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on May 15, 2012

Well… actually you can, if you’re asking your friends and relatives; but, if you ask foundations, corporations, major donors or the general public, you’d likely be wasting your time and resources. Sometimes, especially with new nonprofits, people don’t realize that the mere existence of an organization is not sufficient justification to ask others for money. […]

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Federal Grants — Write and Review !!

By Jayme Sokolow on May 10, 2012

My previous posting discussed the planning and organizing processes. This time, we will address steps three and four – writing, reviewing and rewriting. Write the first draft quickly • Work from your notes and worksheet. • Write heading and subheadings first and use them as a guide. • Begin with the easiest parts of your […]

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What Do They Do With My Contributions??

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on May 8, 2012

Some time ago, I got a note from a reader asking, pretty much, that question: My question to you is — I have donated to a small organization, for a year, in my town to help poor children.  I have never received an explanation on how the money is used.  Should I expect that and […]

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CFC and Planning for the Fall, Part I

By Carter McNamara on May 3, 2012

It’s now spring, which is an interesting time for charities in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), because this is when the overlap of getting the results from the fall campaign and preparing for this fall’s solicitation period occurs. Even though the CFC solicitation periods occur each fall, the books on one year’s campaign don’t close […]

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How Fertile Is The Fundraising Hiring “Field” For You?

By Tony Poderis on May 1, 2012

I once was not even remotely considered as a candidate for a fundraising development job with a hospital. I came from another non-profit background, and no matter my credentials, I did not even get an interview. The hospital’s “call for resumes” had an explicit condition that anyone applying for the job, “Must have at least […]

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Your Best Foundation Funder is not your Best Funder Forever

By Lynn deLearie on April 26, 2012

Just as grade school friendships don’t usually last forever, neither do relationships between nonprofit organizations and their foundation funders. Most grant makers don’t want to provide ongoing operating support; i.e. – they don’t want to be your BFF (Best Funder Forever). Many foundations don’t make grants to the same organization every year. They may allow […]

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Professional Fund Raiser vs. Fundraising Professional

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 24, 2012

Last week I went off on “professional fund raisers,” and, in passing, referred to Fundraising Professionals.  I think I made it clear that I was opposed to the use of the vast majority of those “professional fund raisers” who raise the money for you. And, now, to clarify the differences between the two, and the […]

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Plan and Organize Your Proposal before You Write

By Jayme Sokolow on April 19, 2012

Government grant proposals should go through a five-step writing process: Plan:  Think through your proposal sections. Organize:  Use the grant guidelines as your outlining guide. Write:  Write in a free-flowing manner. Examine:  Walk away from your writing and review it later while letting others review it too. Revise:  Emphasize clarity, conciseness, correctness, and persuasiveness. This […]

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Professional Fund Raisers & Up Front Fees

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on April 17, 2012

A note from a reader: Hank, I am a volunteer for a nonprofit organization that has been approached by “professional fund raisers” that are looking for “up-front” fees to raise money for us. In my experience, and I have paid out thousands of dollars to these individuals that promise you the moon and when it […]

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Mobile Fundraising: Practical Advice

By Rick Christ on April 12, 2012

After some $40 million was raised in $10 gifts through cell phones for the Haiti earthquake response in January, 2010, every nonprofit had dreams of cell phones as mobile donation machines. Even for the Red Cross, those dreams seem to have evaporated. However, mobile use among Americans has increased dramatically. It’s probably true that among […]

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