Fund Raising is Beautiful from the Better Fund Raising Company

• The Power of Donor Love: Interview with Jen Love & John Lepp

  You'll be equipped and inspired by this interview with Jen Love and John Lepp of Agents of Good in Toronto. They are powerful spokespersons for the idea and practical expression of loving donors. You'll learn how Courier font is a practical tool for donor love, why innovation in fundraising so often doesn't work, why ugly powers great fundraising, and how fundraisers can take care of themselves in our sometimes emotionally draining work.

• 11 amazing fundraising truths discovered by new writers

  We asked two new fundraising (and very successful) writers who have been doing some very great work what they know about fundraising that's making them succeed.

  Here's what they told us:

  1. Write as one person connecting with one person.
  2. Avoid the word "we" -- unless it very clearly means you the reader and I the writer.
  3. Start your first draft with this phrase: I'm writing to you today because...
  4. Use the word you a lot.
  5. Articulate the fundraising offer early and often.
  6. Tell a story of need, not success.
  7. Ask clearly for money. (Don't hint around!)
  8. Write at a 6th grade reading level.
  9. Include a P.S. and restate whatever is the most important thing in your message.
  10. Have a deadline, and mention it often.
  11. Keep the organization out of the way -- make it about what the donor can do.

  If you're new to the work, or feel intimidated by it, this list can push you way up your learning curve, and fast!

  Program #110

  Play: 11 amazing fundraising truths discovered by new writers (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

  Or subscribe via iTunes here:

  Time: 24:29

  

• Fundraising is about so much more than money

  Steven shares his short poem, "A Benediction for Fundraisers" (based on "Christ Has No Body" by St. Teresa of Avila [1515-1582]).

  We hope this very brief podcast inspires you to love the important work we do when we motivate donors to give.

  Program #109

  Click the link to play: A Benediction for Fundraisers, or right click and "save as" to save the file for later.

  Time: 3:24

  

• Engagement fundraising -- how you raise the big bucks from the happiest donors

  This is a powerful and super-informative interview with Greg Warner, founder of MarketSmart who also hosts a great podcast called Engagement Fundraising.

  The secret to accelerating your fundraising program is this: find the right level of engagement and giving for every donor, especially:

  • Those who will leave your organization a bequest.
  • Those with the capacity to become mid-level or major donors.

  How do you discover this? Some combination of science and magic?

  Or just ask them?

  You'll love Greg's energy and passion as he describes all the love we're missing by not asking -- engaging with -- donors.

  Program #108

  Play: Engagement fundraising -- how you raise the big bucks from the happiest donors (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

  Time: 23:10

  

• How to conduct interviews that get you the fundraising stories that stir your donors' hearts

  We all know how important it is to tell great stories in fundraising. Those stories almost never drop out of the sky! We have to go and get them.

  In this quick discussion, you'll get some great interviewing tips, including:

  • Know what you want to get what you want.
  • Dealing with language barriers and working with translators.
  • "Lead the witness."
  • The "Columbo" technique.

  And more. Don't miss this opportunity to collect the best stories.

  Program #107

  Play: How to conduct interviews (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

  Time: 8:28

  

• Ultimate Fundraising Lesson

  The most important thing you can learn about fundraising -- the one thing that can make the difference between mediocrity and big-time success -- it's this: It's not about you. It's about your donor! It's so easy to talk about how great our organization is... and to forget that donors don't give because you're awesome. They give because they are awesome. That's why successful fundraising is about donors, not about us.

• 3 things that are probably wrong with your nonprofit website

  We've looked at a lot of nonprofit websites. More than is good for our mental health, frankly.

  And we've found three things to be wrong with nearly all of them:

  1. Your website doesn't present some kind of need that the donor can meet.
  2. The idea of giving is not clear and strong.
  3. You've created it to make your leadership and board happy.

  We'll show you how to fix these common issues and transform your website into the fundraising vehicle you want.

  Program #106

  Play: 3 things that are probably wrong with your nonprofit website (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

  Time: 13:06

  

• How to use photos in fundraising

  We take a look at the ways photos can emotional depth and measurable pull-power to your fundraising... or undermine your message entirely!

• How to use photos in fundraising

  Take note of this:

  A picture is worth a thousand words. So choose your pictures carefully!

  We take a look at the ways photos can emotional depth and measurable pull-power to your fundraising... or undermine your message entirely!

  A good fundraiser knows when to use "negative" images and when to use the positive ones we prefer. Find out in this episode the rhythm and balance of images that motivate donors to give. And to keep giving.

  Program #105

  Play: How to use photos in fundraising (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

  Time: 9:29

  

• Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter or that they don't?

  What's the subtext of your donor-communications stream? That is, what's the overarching message they're getting, even though you might not be saying it out loud? We'll show you how to change your subtext into one that thrills and involves donors -- and keeps them giving.

• Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter, or that they don't?

  What's the subtext of your donor-communications stream? That is, what's the overarching message they're getting, even though you might not be saying it out loud?

  For many organizations, it's:

  • We've got this.
  • We're taking care of the problem.
  • You can partner with us if you like.

  But for the really effective fundraisers, the subtext is more like this:

  • There's a problem.
  • We're looking for great people like you to help solve it.
  • Are are helping solve it!

  This is the basis of donor love. The big message you communicate with them.

  We'll show you how to change your subtext into one that thrills and involves donors -- and keeps them giving.

  Program #104

  Play: Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter, or that they don't? (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

  Or subscribe via iTunes here:

  Time: 21:01

  

• The right way -- and wrong way -- to thank your donors

  A lot of nonprofit thank-you messages say something like this: "Thank you for being our partner...."

  That's about as thrilling to the donor as telling her she has nice elbows.

  Donors don't give in order to be our partner. They give to have a positive impact on the world in some specific way. And that's what you should thank them for.

  Not for what they did in their relationship with you. It's another way to put yourself in the donor's world and not your world. Which leads to better results every time!

• The right way -- and wrong way -- to thank your donors

  A lot of nonprofit thank-you messages say something like this: "Thank you for being our partner...."

  That's about as thrilling to the donor as telling her she has nice elbows.

  Donors don't give in order to be our partner. They give to have a positive impact on the world in some specific way. And that's what you should thank them for.

  Not for what they did in their relationship with you. It's another way to put yourself in the donor's world and not your world. Which leads to better results every time!

  Program #103

  Play: The right way -- and wrong way -- to thank your donors (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

  Or subscribe via iTunes here:

  Time: 8:46

  

• MUST-LISTEN Interview with Scott Harrison of charity:water

  Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water (and a fan of this podcast) reveals some of the thinking behind this innovative nonprofit that came on the scene 10 years ago and his virtually re-written the fundraising playbook in many ways.

  Get the inside scoop on:

  • How charity:water takes its donors on a journey -- every time
  • How they manage and market their promise that 100% of a donor's gift goes to the field
  • The power of "productizing" (which anyone can do!)
  • Charity:water's biggest challenge and how they're tackling it

  We learned a lot from Scott. You will too!

  Program #102

  Click the link to play: Interview with Scott Harrison of charity:water, or right click and "save as" to save the file for later.

  Or subscribe via iTunes here:

  Time: 39:05

  

• Interview with Scott Harrison of charity:water

  Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water (and a fan of this podcast) reveals some of the thinking behind this innovative nonprofit that came on the scene 10 years ago and his virtually re-written the fundraising playbook in many ways.

  Get the inside scoop on:

  • How charity:water takes its donors on a journey -- every time
  • How they manage and market their promise that 100% of a donor's gift goes to the field
  • The power of "productizing" (which anyone can do!)
  • Charity:water's biggest challenge and how they're tackling it

  We learned a lot from Scott. You will too!

• Two super-common errors that can kill your fundraising

  There are two opposite impulses that almost all fundraisers fall prey to at some time or another. They are: 

  • Educating donors
  • Abstraction

  They are guaranteed response-crushers. And the temptation to do both are powerful.

  With real-life examples, we'll show you how to avoid both errors and keep your fundraising strong.

• Two super-common errors that can kill your fundraising

  There are two opposite impulses that almost all fundraisers fall prey to at some time or another. They are:

  • Educating donors
  • Abstraction

  They are guaranteed response-crushers. And the temptation to do both are powerful.

  With real-life examples, we'll show you how to avoid both errors and keep your fundraising strong.

  Program #101

  Click the link to play: Two super-common errors that can kill your fundraising, or right click and "save as" to save the file for later.

  Or subscribe via iTunes here:

  Time: 16:19

  

• The upsides and downsides of holiday-based fundraising

  Some of the strongest fundraising is connected to specific holidays.

  Some of the most ineffective fundraising is also connected to specific holidays.

  The special edition podcast will show you how to put holidays to work for you. And when not to do it at all.

• How to create great direct mail fundraising teasers

  The most impactful element of any direct mail project is the teaser -- what you put on the outer envelope.

  We'll share what works, what never works, and the surprising "most likely to succeed" approach.

  We'll also discuss email subject lines -- a closely related topic with some strong similarities to direct mail teasers.

• How to succeed at fundraising for a church

  Houses of worship are a powerhouse of the fundraising world. But even they face new challenges in getting their people to donate.

  We take a practical and realistic look at the challenges churches face and what they can do to motivate their people to give generously.

• It's the donor's story -- not your own

  Most fundraisers know that telling stories is the way to reach donors' hearts and minds and motivate them to give. But what's the right story to tell?

  It's the donor's story. The story she'll tell after she gives.

  This podcast takes a look at what we fundraisers can do to give each donor a story to tell. That's the foundation to lasting relationships with donors who love to give to you!

• Fundraising under President Trump

  How is fundraising likely to do during the Trump administration? We take a look. We believe it will mean very different things to different organizations. Find out what you can expect in the coming months and years. And what you can do to maximize revenue and donor engagement.

• Your 6-word guide to powerful donor newsletters

  Every piece of content in every donor newsletter should fit match this model. When you do that, you'll have a newsletter that raises funds, and improves donor retention by improving your donor relationships!

• What is donor-focused fundraising, really?

  Everybody knows that donor-focused fundraising is good. But what is it, actually? Listen to discover a new and more effective way to understand -- and create -- donor-focused fundraising

• Keeping donors vs. getting new ones -- how to balance

  Ever been told Stop acquiring new donors until you've improved your retention rates? It's bad advice. We'll take a close look at the important dynamic between acquisition and retention and show you how to arrive at the right balance for your organization.

• How old are your donors?

  For most fundraisers, your donors are a lot older than you think. We'll look at why this is so and what it means for you: How do you communicate with these people? About what? And in which channels?

  Knowing hold old your donors are -- and responding appropriately -- is the key to success in fundraising. Knowledge is power!

• How to survive the "summer slump"

  Most fundraisers experience a drop in giving during the summer months. Here are some tips for minimizing the pain by maximizing summertime revenue... and other ways you can profitably use the summer months to improve your fundraising all year 'round.

• When the boss doesn't like your fundraising

  It's one of the most common experiences in fundraising. You've created a powerful fundraising message. Then you show it to your boss -- and she hates it. We can't ignore bosses (and board members and other authorities) -- and they often dislike our best work. Because it's not aimed at them!

  Here's how to gently make your case with your boss that whether she likes it or not isn't relevant -- and in fact, her dislike is a pretty good indicator that you've done it right! Practical steps that will help you put the good stuff out their and raise more money!

• Tom Ahern on Donor-Focused Newsletters that Raise Money

  Here's an info-packed interview with the Superb Tom Ahern. We discuss how and why you can raise a lot of money with donor newsletters. Learn what's working and what's not, what most often goes wrong in donor newsletters, and what the heck is up with email newsletters? All from Tom's new book Making Money with Donor Newsletters. This podcast could change your fundraising forever!

• Are you Yoda or Batman to your donors?

  There are two fundamentally different approaches fundraisers can take to their donors: One stays in the background and empowers the donor to be the hero. The other stands in front and tells the donor to be a good side-kick -- keeping the hero label for himself.

  One of these raises a lot more money than the other. Do you know which? And do you know which of them you are?

• How to improve your donor's giving experience

  Your donor gets nothing in return for her donation. Nothing but your communications.

  Your communications have a big job to do: To show her something she may have no way of knowing otherwise: What her gift made possible.

  That's how you cross the gap from a donation being a random, one-time event to building a meaningful and mutually beneficial relationship with your donor.

  Learn some practical, no-nonsense things you can do in your donor communications that will fill your donors' hearts and minds with reasons to keep on giving.

• The secrets of successful disaster fundraising

  Recorded on Friday afternoon, October 23, 2015. Hurricane Patricia was barrelling toward the coast of Mexico, and we didn't yet know if it was going to be a humanitarian disaster or not. (Thankfully, it wasn't.)

  Some disasters give us advance warning. Others, like earthquakes, don't. Some disasters get the attention of the whole world. Others are only noted by a local area (like unusually cold weather) or even a neighborhood (the local school burns down).

  In this podcast, we look at ways you can be relevant and useful with disaster fundraising. When to do it, when not to, and how you approach a disaster so your donors are moved to help.

• The 7 deadly sins of nonprofit storytelling

  Here are seven common storytelling sins that make your story ineffective:

  1. It's about you, not your donor.
  2. It doesn't have conflict.
  3. The problem is too big.
  4. It's a story about success, not need.
  5. It's over-written.
  6. It's too hard to read.
  7. It's aimed at the wrong audience.

  This podcast is a preview of the presentation we'll be making at the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference, November 12-13 in Seattle. Seats are filling up fast, but there may still be room for you!

• The Evil Cousin of Fundraising

  Listen to an excerpt from the new book, How to Turn Your Words into Money: The Master Fundraiser's Guide to Persuasive Writing by Jeff Brooks, reading the chapter titled "The Evil Cousin of Fundraising."

  Learn about the all-too-common practice of fundcrushing -- using large numbers and overwhelming facts as the means for coaxing donors into giving. The truth is, it rarely works.

  Find out what to do instead of fundcrushing that will motivate donors to give. (It's not that difficult!)

  How to Turn Your Words into Money: The Master Fundraiser's Guide to Persuasive Writing, is available at:

  • Amazon
  • The publisher (best bet if you're ordering in bulk)

• Your fundraising is not for you

  The most common and destructive error fundraisers make is aiming their messages at themselves -- creating what they believe would motivate them to give.

  They should be aiming at their donors. And donors are very different from you in nearly every way.

  Here's help for aiming your work in the right direction so you can raise more money for your cause.

• Good News Fundraising or Bad News Fundraising?

  What story does your fundraising tell? Is it Bad News -- the problem and brokenness that you want your donors to help you change? Or is it Good News -- the promise of what can happen when your donor steps up and gives.

  Or maybe there's a third, more perfect, way.

  We'll show you that way, the approach to fundraising that avoids the revenue killing errors of either good news or bad news fundraising.

• You say it's your anniversary: How to make it work for fundraising

  Most of your donors don't care that your organization has been around for a nice round number of years. That's why Give to us because it's our 25th and we're awesome is a lousy way to raise funds.

  But there are some things you can do to leverage your anniversary into more revenue. We discuss four cool things you can do that will turn that otherwise meaningless milestone into good things.

• The unique unimportance of uniqueness in fundraising

  Many organizations believe that their uniqueness is the main reason donors will choose them for their charitable giving. That's a revenue-crushing mistake.

  Successful fundraising starts where the donor is -- not in the organization's uniqueness -- and makes a clear, simple case.

  "I'm looking for an organization to support that's completely unique," said no donor, ever.

  Your uniqueness is important. But it can drag down your fundraising if you over-focus on it.

• Fundraising techniques that everyone does: Are they bad?

  How often we hear someone say: I will never use that fundraising technique because everyone does it!

  We see something again and again and think it's hackneyed, out-of-style, and ineffective.

  Actually, it's usually the other way: Those fundraising "techniques" you see again and again are the things that work.

  This special podcast for fundraising nerds only includes the cheapest way to get a powerful fundraising education.

• Fundraising From Yourself: Beware

  We're taking a look at one of the most destructive forces in all of fundraising: The need we all have to make ourselves the audience for our messages: Fundraising From Yourself -- or FFY.

  It's the quick and sure path to failure.

  We'll show you the three signs that FFY is happening in your organization and give you the tools for avoiding this common problem that costs nonprofit organizations millions of dollars every year.

• Want relationships with your donors? Prove it!

  Consider this: Most nonprofit organizations want "real relationships" with their donors. But they communicate with donors as infrequently as possible, and when they do, they tend to talk only about themselves. What kind of relationship-building is that?

  We'll examine three ways to walk the talk if you really want to build relationships with donors:

  1. Communicating frequently enough.
  2. Talking to donors about donors.
  3. Reporting back to donors about the impact of their giving.

• Donor acquisition vs donor cultivation -- know the difference to succeed in both

  Donor acquisition -- in any medium -- has a fundamentally different "ecosystem" form donor cultivation. Knowing the difference will make you far more effective in both.

  We discuss the differences in response numbers, cost, messaging, and long-term impact between acquisition and cultivation.

• Fundraising Is Beautiful 101 -- the basics of great fundraising

  Before you know anything else about fundraising, there are three basic assumptions you should know about it:

  1. Fundraising is all about specificity. It's the specific change you're asking the donor to help make with their gift. Abstractions and generalities fail to move donors to action.
  2. Fundraising is about building relationships. Don't think of donors as ATMs that dispense money from time to time. Think of them as friends who do cool things with you. It's a two-way relationship. Both sides give and both sides receive.
  3. Fundraising transforms donors. When you know they amazing things that happen in their lives when they give to you, you'll enjoy fundraising a lot more. And you'll do a better job.

  Working with these basic truths is the key to success.

• The 12 tips of Christmas

  Here are 12 fundraising tips -- most of them super-easy and ready to try immediately -- that can boost your fundraising results, this holiday season or any other time of year.

• ENCORE PODCAST: Maximize your year-end fundraising

  The coming weeks are the probably the most important of the year for your fundraising. Here are practical tips for both direct mail and online fundraising that can make the most of the generosity your donors feel as the year comes to an end.

• Letter from a disgruntled donor

  A donor writes a letter to the president of the organization. It's an articulate critique of what the donor dislikes about their fundraising: It's simplistic, repetitious, and emotional. What do you do? What do you say? We read an actual letter from a real donor and talk through the right -- and wrong -- response. There's a disastrously bad response that many organizations make to letters like this. There's also an affirming, correct, and revenue-enhancing response.

• 3 steps to effective storytelling in fundraising

  Storytelling that persuades donors to action isn't magic. You just have to make sure your has these elements:

   

  • It's about the donor (not about your awesome organization)
  • It leads to the donor taking action -- entering the story
  • It's unfinished -- you want to donor to create the satisfying end to the story.

   

• 4 hallmarks of donor-focused communications

  Do you ever wonder if your donor communications are truly donor-focused? Check what you're saying against this list:

  1. Donors are the heroes of most of the stories you tell.
  2. Donors get prompt, detailed, and frequent information about the impact of their giving.
  3. Donors has control over how you communicate with them.
  4. Design is appropriate for donors -- not aimed at internal audiences.

• 3 things your donors should be able to find on your website

  Your nonprofit website does a lot of things. If you want it to be helpful to your fundraising, make sure it has these three elements:

  1. Information that tells them than can trust you.
  2. A clear statement of what you do.
  3. Easy-to-use donation form(s).

  That's not a complete list of everything you should have -- just three musts you' shouldn't let slip. These things will help you raise more money, both online and offline.

• 5 ways to drive away donors

  Are you getting too much fundraising revenue? Do you need fewer donors to support your work? Here's how you can help solve that problem:

  1. Write and design for your coworkers (or yourself).
  2. Change the subject between your acquisition and cultivation messages.
  3. Educate your donors.
  4. Develop your website differently from your offline messages.
  5. Have sloppy donor data.