Joey Mak

The Far Side of Fundraising Tip of the Week Transactional fundraising leads to high rates of donor loss. Most organizations lose 4 out of 5 first-time donors. The more rapidly and impersonally we secure support, the more we sub-optimize giving potential and the more rapidly donors depart. High rates of donor attrition, coupled with the continue contraction of giving households, spell long-term disaster for most nonprofits. Don't follow the transactional lemmings as they plunged into the sea. Adopt sustainable practices. You may be in the minority but you will help your organization survive and eventually thrive. This one requires that you closely to see who stands out in adopting sustainable practices.

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The new Faith & Civic Life Policy Circle Brief is live. Please take a moment to read and share. Even better, host a conversation with your friends, network or congregation. #circleup #thepolicycircle

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New and Improved Fundraising Metrics The metrics that will actually lead to improved fundraising performance will not be about tasking fundraisers but about creating the conditions that allow fundraisers to be successful. The usual fundraising metrics have not: 🔹 Reversed the public's mistrust in institutions 🔹 Stemmed the loss of giving households 🔹 Slowed the rate of donor attrition 🔹 Helped donors better understand the impact of their giving 🔹 Substituted for the lack of major gift worthy content 🔹 Addressed donors' declining interest in subsidizing organizations Those metrics, therefore, are geared toward getting fundraisers to produce more without addressing the major obstacles in their way. The new metrics must be focused on creating the conditions that will increase the chances of fundraising success. They could include: 🔸 How many major gift concepts have been tested with current and prospective donors. How many have received a score of 4 or better (on a 1 to 5 scale)? 🔸 The results of a donor satisfaction survey or interviews of top donors to determine the baseline score in the current year, then a plan to address the issues that donors have identified as needing improvement, and how those scores compare year over year. 🔸 The results of service satisfaction surveys or service delivery assessments to quantify how well the organization is delivering on its mission promise for those it was established to serve 🔸 The results of needs assessment to determine if there is a rising or falling need for the service provided by the organization and, if rising, what additional programs and investments will be required to meet that need Without better organizational performance metrics, fundraising metrics are relatively meaningless and counterproductive. Fundraising metrics cannot compensate for organizations that don't sufficiently address what donors have every right to expect.

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Many donors still are trying to understand how donor-advised funds work. Likewise, a lot of nonprofit leaders still are unsure the right way to work with donors who give through DAFs, much less the DAF providers themselves. In the latest Giving Ventures podcast, we tackle both sides of the equation. The podcast plays back a great webinar we hosted for non-profit leaders last week exploring how to use and work with DAF providers. Take a listen, whether you be a donor, non-profit CEO, or a fundraiser. You'll find something to help you!

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𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐚𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝: 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞'𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 🌟 Salesforce's collaboration with the East Oakland Collective (EOC) through a pro bono project at Venture2Impact has yielded impressive outcomes in community development and resilience. The partnership aimed to launch a business and entrepreneurship curriculum to empower the local community, particularly its most vulnerable members through Skills-Based Volunteering. The impact of this initiative is profound: 100% of EOC staff who participated in the training now report enhanced capabilities and confidence in delivering business education to their community 📈. The initiative has instilled a strong sense of empowerment among EOC staff, with 100% feeling equipped to implement the training effectively 💪. This project not only boosted the community but also enhanced job satisfaction among Salesforce volunteers, with 100% expressing a positive shift in their view of the company ❤️. This successful engagement highlights the transformative power of corporate-community partnerships in fostering local economic and social resilience. Read the case study in detail: https://lnkd.in/e5bPHfdS #CommunityDevelopment #SocialImpact #CorporateResponsibility #ProBono

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I'd add that this is a chance to work with a fabulous team including Moriah Jacobs and Lucas Donavan-Lafuente--and a powerful and insightful leader, in Eva Hernandez! This is a great job focused on what's needed right now to solve big #environmental and #climate issues. That's because the big wins we need this decade require greater alignment, capacity, and influence, not just good policy ideas. In fact, across so many issues from climate to conservation, there are good ideas and plans that frame "what" we need to do. Too often what we don't have is the shared influence to translate ideas into action. Mosaic is focused on building the bigger coalitions, new voices, and shared tools essential to boost the collective power of environmental, climate and environmental justice advocates. If you want to be at the center of that critical work, there's no better job.

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Check out this new story about the impact investing work of Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, focusing on our program related investment in the Montbello Organizing Committee's FreshLo project which brings together affordable housing, healthy food, and a cultural center to a neighborhood desperately in need of all these resources. This is just one example of the continuum of uses of capital that all funders need to be more creative and intentional about. https://lnkd.in/gYCewzU9

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A recent piece from Stanford Social Innovation Review provides a compelling framework for how social sector organizations can use communications to foster trust, amplify values, and build community. For those of us focused on advancing social impact through strategic partnerships, these principles are both timely and essential. Here’s how I see these lessons applying to our work: Trust-Centered Communication: Transitioning from transactional marketing to relationship-driven communication creates space for genuine engagement. Meaningful partnerships thrive when built on trust, not just shared goals. Aligning Actions and Words: Authenticity requires that actions reflect values. Thoughtful communication is vital, but it must be paired with tangible impact to foster integrity and inspire confidence. Community as a Foundation: Supporting partners to amplify their own voices—whether by passing the mic or building their capacity—multiplies collective impact. Empowering others strengthens the ecosystem as a whole. These insights underscore the transformative power of intentional communications in mission-driven work. How are communications evolving in your organizations? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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"Public trust is the currency of the nonprofit sector." Independent Sector "Trust is what makes it possible for us to partner with local communities to do the hard work of systemic change. Our trusted voices as advocates for our missions help drive policy change. Our trusted status makes us an essential partner to government and industry. Trust is vital in recruiting volunteers and in the sector’s work to bridge differences in a divided America. And, without trust, raising the resources we need to do our work becomes infinitely harder." Key findings from the Independent Sector's new report include: 1) After four years of decline, trust in nonprofits has rebounded by 5 points to 57%. 2) Trust in philanthropy remains steady at 33%, lower than trust in nonprofits. 3) Americans trust nonprofits to reduce national divisions more than they trust corporations, government, or media. 4) Americans have less trust in nonprofits to advocate for public policies and conduct nonpartisan voter engagement. 5) There are clear pathways for nonprofits to increase public trust in the sector. Please reach out to discuss how together we can increase public trust in your organization's mission-driven work. https://lnkd.in/d9--XQSz

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Interested in learning more about community capital and the diversified community investment fund (DCIF) model? Here's a great primer. Plus, you can hear more about the Local Return DCIF!

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We cannot fulfill the promise of #ICPD & #ReproJustice when the needs and rights of entire communities are not prioritized and realized. In stark contrast to the progress we’ve made reaching those most “reachable” are the disparities in #HealthEquity for those who have been marginalized.    No matter where in the world Black women are, they are bearing the burden of #MaternalMortality. I spoke with Jessie Schutt-Aine of Pan American Health Organization on how they are helping bridge the gap in health equity for women of African descent in the Americas: https://lnkd.in/eUC4aefN 

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Enjoyed speaking with Rich Frazier, CFRE in a recent episode of the NPFX: The Nonprofit Fundraising Exchange podcast on how to engage millennials and Gen Z in causes. We covered a lot, including: - Understanding the value propositions that different generations bring to nonprofit organizations. - How nonprofits can clearly articulate their goals and the role of millennials and Gen Z in achieving those goals. - The importance of creating achievable milestones that millennials and Gen Z can rally around. - The types of causes that millennials and Gen Z are most attracted to. - Common mistakes like focusing on delivery mechanisms or creating millennial initiatives as a last resort when other strategies have failed. ...and even more. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gc8mxUdb

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4 Components of a Culture of Philanthropy "Development staff are always included in organizational decisions. Program staff play an active role in relationship building. Fundraising and engagement are inextricably linked. Transformational relationships take priority over transactions." More insights and explications of these points can be found in this important article by Claire.

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Just listened to an eye-opening podcast episode featuring Dr. Akilah Watkins on the power and influence of the nonprofit sector. Did you know that nonprofits are the third-largest driver of the economy? Yet, we often find our voices missing in crucial policy and decision-making spaces. Dr. Watkins brings to light many insightful points on how we can elevate the influence of nonprofits, especially at the federal level. This discussion is a must-listen for anyone committed to amplifying our sector’s impact and ensuring our voices are heard where it matters most. Check it out here:  #CommunityHousingNetwork #NonprofitSector #EconomicImpact #PolicyInfluence #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityImpact #FederalAdvocacy #VoiceForChange #NonprofitPower #NonprofitGrowth 

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