The Age of Super-Cynical Donors

We just conducted a night of focus groups for a nonprofit organization that is fighting a chronic disease. In one of the exercises, we had the first group, which consisted of the organization’s donors, write letters to the later prospective donor group to...

Optimizing the Demise (Part 5)

This may be the final post in our five part series of how to Optimize the Demise, but it’s not our final suggestion for improving your fundraising program.  Be sure to subscribe to our feeds or sign up for our email news to receive more actionable insights. And...

Optimizing the Demise (Part 4)

Here’s suggestion number 4 on how to optimize the demise…(and if you missed the last 3 suggestions, click here to read more.) Use telemarketing more. I think the biggest indicator that direct mail is in trouble is that organizations that have always...

Optimizing the Demise (Part 3)

In our continuing series on how to Optimize the Demise, here is an idea to encourage online giving: Mail inexpensive postcards to donors (particularly ones who have a history of giving online or by bank check) with a simple message: Thanks for your past gifts to us...