Tag Archives: Fundraising

End of the Year Appeals: Mission Statement

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Scott Cargle

Your mission statement is a living document that changes over time. Continue reading →

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How To Get Funded: Advice from a Donor’s Mouth

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Scott Cargle

Ever wonder why some nonprofits get donations year after year, while some languish in the desert of Nodonorland? Here is a good blog from a donor that lays it out: how he and his wife make decisions. This section stood … Continue reading →

Posted in Donations, Fundraising, Giving, Grant Writing, Grantwriting, Nonprofit, The Ask | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Donations Barely Rose Last Year

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Scott Cargle

The Chronicle of Philanthropy tells us that donations from individuals are still down. And at this rate it could take 5 or 6 years for donations to recover to their pre-2007 level. What do we learn? That fundraising is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crowdfunding, Donations, Fundraising, Giving, Grant Writing, Grantwriting, Nonprofit, The Ask, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Proposal Is Rejected. Now What?

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Scott Cargle

When some nonprofits get the rejection notice, the staff takes it as — well, rejection. They get depressed or angry. They curse the funder. They rail at the cosmos. They feel personally rejected. Simmer down, people. Savvy fundraisers can use rejection to … Continue reading →

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Thank Your Donors Now

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Scott Cargle

We have all done it. We forgot to send out thank you notes. The mail merge screwed up and sent letters to the wrong donors. And how much do stamps cost these days? Thanks to Vanessa Chase, you now have … Continue reading →

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Nonprofit Boards Make Me Crazy!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Scott Cargle

Nonprofit boards, bless their little souls. They are filled with well-meaning, intelligent people. They try their best to help the organization. But the one thing we need them to do, the biggest item on the agenda at every meeting, is … Continue reading →

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Why Are Grants Written So Badly? And How To Stop It.

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Scott Cargle

Crazy sentences. Lazy verbs. Pointless paragraphs. Bad commas. We write grant proposals, business plans, donor letters, marketing copy. Writing is the foundation of everything we do. It’s how we raise money. It’s how we communicate with our board and staff. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Crowdfunding, Donations, Fundraising, Grant Writing, Grantwriting, Nonprofit, The Ask, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Crowdfunding: Hot or Not?

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Scott Cargle

Crowdfunding: Hot or Not? Crowdfunding is the hot trend in fundraising. Last year,  individual contributions through crowdfunding websites reached $2.7 billion worldwide — an 81% increase over 2011. But crowdfunding is nothing new. It’s just good old-fashioned individual solicitation, juiced up by social media. Some folks … Continue reading →

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