3 Hats Every Nonprofit Leader Wears Read time: 4-5 Minutes When I started a nonprofit, I quickly learned that running an organization meant wearing a lot of hats. One day, I was out in the community sharing our mission. Next, I was knee-deep in spreadsheets trying to make sure the budget balanced. On top of that, I was figuring out how to post on social media so people could know we existed. I even made our first website (it was terrible). Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The truth is,...
10 days ago • 5 min read
What to Say in YourFundraising Email Series Read time: 4-5 Minutes Years ago I sat down to write my first fundraising email and I was stumped. What do I say?Should I tell a story? Add a stat? Include the donate link three times?I overthought every sentence, and when I finally hit send? Crickets. Looking back, I realize now that my biggest mistake was thinking about fundraising campaigns as a one-time burst, rather than a mental journey you take potential supporters on. As I mentioned in last...
17 days ago • 6 min read
Asking for donations is <10% of successful fundraising. (Here's the other 90%) Read time: 3-4 Minutes When I first started fundraising, I thought the most important thing I had to learn was how to ask. What to say. When to say it. And how much to ask for? Yet, the more campaigns I ran and the more donors I talked to, the more I realized something surprising: The ask is actually just a tiny fraction of fundraising success.(Which is honestly great, since most people (myself included) feel like...
24 days ago • 5 min read
Is your Nonprofit fundable? 3 things donors want to know first Read time: 3-4 Minutes Many donors are researching your organization before they give. So what separates the campaigns that actually get funded from the ones that don’t? I’ve seen patterns emerge over hundreds of fundraising campaigns. The most successful campaigns aren’t always the ones with the flashiest videos or even the most emotional stories (though those help!). They’re the ones who communicate clearly. In this week’s...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Using your Nonprofit email signature as a marketing secret weapon Read time: 4-5 Minutes Don't forget: Click here if you want to get notified when my new Zero to $100,000 nonprofit start-up fundraising toolkit launches! What if something you already use every day could help you build stronger relationships, grow your community, and even bring in more donations? Yep, I’m talking about your email signature. ✉️ It’s one of the most underrated tools in your nonprofit’s toolbox. Every message you...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Fundraising Myths Holding Us Back Read time: 3-4 Minutes Don't forget: Click here if you want to get notified when my new Zero to $100,000 nonprofit start-up fundraising toolkit launches! When I started my first nonprofit, I thought that if I just shared a donation link on social media or sent a few emails, people would give. I had the passion, the need was real… so why wasn’t the money rolling in? Turns out, fundraising isn’t about casting a wide net and hoping for the best. It’s about...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
How to Make Your Nonprofit Last: Succession Planning 101 Read time: 4 Minutes Don't forget: Click here if you want to get notified when my new Zero to $100,000 nonprofit start-up fundraising toolkit launches! What happens if your nonprofit’s leader steps away tomorrow? 😳 Maybe that’s you. Maybe it’s someone else. Either way – It’s one of those uncomfortable “deal with it later” scenarios…until later becomes now. Whether it’s a founder retiring, a staff departure, or something unexpected,...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Fundraising Laws You Really Need to Know About Read time: 4 Minutes Don't forget: Click here if you want to get notified when my new Zero to $100,000 nonprofit start-up fundraising toolkit launches! Did you know a few small fundraising missteps could land your nonprofit in hot water? 😬 From state licenses to donor privacy laws, there are more rules than most people realize, and ignoring them can lead to hefty fines or even damage your nonprofit’s reputation. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
UPDATE! Thanks for sharing what kinds of toolkits would help you! I'm about to publish the one you requested MOST: My "Zero to $100,000" nonprofit start-up fundraising toolkit. It will have a complete guide covering my field-tested system for how to do this, templates, and more. Interested in getting it when it's done? Just click here to get notified! How to Boost Your Nonprofit’s Online Search Visibility in 2025 Read time: 4 Minutes Ever wonder if people can actually discover your nonprofit...
2 months ago • 7 min read