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Tell me another one!

October 06, 2021 by Dianna Smiley in Understanding Donors, Capital Campaign, Planned Giving, Board Members

I love jokes! During the pandemic, they’ve been wonderfully stress-reducing. But what does joke telling or story telling have to do with fundraising? Story telling? A LOT!

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October 06, 2021 /Dianna Smiley
Stories, cultivation, Fundraising
Understanding Donors, Capital Campaign, Planned Giving, Board Members

How to steward your donors? ASK them!

April 16, 2021 by Dianna Smiley in Understanding Donors, Strategy, Capital Campaign, Staff Leadership, Planned Giving

Most gifts come from donors who've already given, not new donors. This article is about how we treat these valuable people, helping them give more, now and in the future.

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April 16, 2021 /Dianna Smiley
Fundraising, Giving, major gifts, Board members, Capital Campaign, fundraising communications
Understanding Donors, Strategy, Capital Campaign, Staff Leadership, Planned Giving

Part 3 - Begin a Beautiful Friendship … with a Foundation!

February 24, 2021 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Capital Campaign, Understanding Donors, Strategy, Staff Leadership

In Part 2, I gave you some options for approaching a foundation when you have no history with them and don’t know anyone there. This article is about building the relationship between your organization and the foundation once you have made contact and told your story. Make it a beautiful friendship!

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February 24, 2021 /Dianna Smiley
Board Members, Capital Campaign, Understanding Donors, Strategy, Staff Leadership

The Mysterious World of Raising Funds from Foundations Part 1

January 04, 2021 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Strategy, Understanding Donors, Capital Campaign

Remember this: Foundations are in the business of investing in nonprofits that perform work leading to goals and outcomes desired by their leadership. If your group can help enable them to come closer to those goals and outcomes, they need you. You are doing something they cannot do themselves.

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January 04, 2021 /Dianna Smiley
foundations, Grant Writing, Grants, Fundraising
Board Members, Strategy, Understanding Donors, Capital Campaign

Achieving your dreams in a global pandemic

July 13, 2020 by Dianna Smiley in Capital Campaign, Strategy, Board Members

Capital campaigns represent the dreams of leaders in a community to do something important and lasting on behalf of the community. And now...COVID-19. How do these leaders and their teams react to something that might completely derail their project? What if they are in the middle of the campaign? What if they now lack the funds to execute the campaign? What if they are almost ready to launch the campaign? This post has six points of advice for those planning or carrying out capital campaigns right now.

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July 13, 2020 /Dianna Smiley
Campaign, Covid-19
Capital Campaign, Strategy, Board Members

Has “Generosity” lost its power?

October 30, 2019 by Dianna Smiley in Board Members, Capital Campaign, Staff Leadership, Understanding Donors

Used too often and without thought, “generous” and “generosity” lose their power. Do we cheapen these words by calling every donor “generous”?

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October 30, 2019 /Dianna Smiley
fundraising communications, donor recognition, donor solicitation
Board Members, Capital Campaign, Staff Leadership, Understanding Donors

Nonprofits: Got a Case for Support?

December 28, 2016 by David Tauber in Capital Campaign

Every organization needs a case statement for support, especially if you are exploring a Capital Campaign.  But the utility of a case statement, written well and updated often, can carry you through many routine fundraising activities during the year.

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December 28, 2016 /David Tauber
Capital Campaign

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