COVER STORY
Coal Creek Meals on Wheels has grown pretty significantly, and philanthropy has been a big driver in that growth. Our contributed revenue budget has doubled over the last four years, and that’s in large part been due to an increase in individual donors.
COVER STORY
Creating and maintaining a donor-centric culture within a nonprofit organization is essential for fostering strong, lasting relationships with donors and ensuring the long-term success of fundraising efforts.
COVER STORY
I was involved in fundraising informally from an early age, collecting for UNICEF and distributing food and clothing at shelters. In my late 20s, when my best friend contracted leukemia, I became more engaged in community giving, organizing blood drives and fundraising for research. After his passing, I pursued a graduate degree and began working full-time in fundraising, starting with reforestation and environmental initiatives in Armenia.
Nonprofit jargon is a surefire way to lose donors. Too often, fundraisers either get lost in technical language or lean on overused buzzwords that mean little to the average supporter. Phrases like “making a difference” or “impactful” are vague and uninspiring—donors want specifics. Instead of empty jargon, use clear, engaging language that shows exactly how their gift helps. The right words can transform your appeals, strengthen connections, and ultimately drive more meaningful support for your mission.
COVER STORY
I learned so much from my theater days. Having done both scene work with a script in front of me and improv with no script, I recommend writing a “script” before going into any major donor meetings. For me, that script is usually a bullet-point list of topics that I want to cover and important information about the donor and their giving history. Having a “practice” conversation with a friend or colleague beforehand is really helpful too.
COVER STORY
The most powerful tool in a fundraising professional’s arsenal is the ability to share stories of transformation. This allows the nonprofit to connect the donor to the cause and inspire them to take action. Authenticity in storytelling is essential for creating meaningful connections between donors and the mission.
You’ve had 365 days to keep your 2024 New Year’s resolutions—how well did you do? Statistics show that if you’re like most Americans, over 80% of those resolutions were toast by February. But, since you’re here reading philanthropy.org, I’m hopeful you’re among the 8% who wrote their resolutions down, and then actually kept it.
COVER STORY
When I think about a fundraiser’s legacy, I see it as a shared journey with a community. The first part is the impact on the donor, where we come together to match their philanthropic interest with the vision of the organization. The second part is the impact on the organization, where we work collectively to leave it better than we found it. The third part is the impact on our colleagues, where we support each other in advancing our careers and being good mentors.
Storytelling is your nonprofit’s most powerful marketing tool. But everyone else is using it, too. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need storyselling—a strategic form of storytelling designed to motivate your donors and prospects to action.
GIVING Magazine
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