Leanne Posko

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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Are you seeking to elevate #communityvoices? 1. Take a step back to reflect on yourself oh gate keeper! Now... 2. Let go of your need to be in control of the narrative to suit yours or your donor interests 3. Let communities tell you what they want and how they want and do the rare act of #listening to support and not to spin the narrative to favour your interests 4. Let communities build their own narratives and gather their own content to communicate what story they want and how they want Now comes the hardest part... 5. Give them access to those platforms and relationships you hold so dear and let them speak for themselves - on their own terms 6. Sit back and watch the world listen to them knowing that you played a value adding role Instead of merely elevating the voices of the marginalised you would have used your power and privilege to create room for communities to elevate their own voices Communities need access to leaders. Give them that. #comnunityleadership #shiftthepower #localisation #solidarityovercharity

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When thinking back to my time as a nonprofit CEO, I recall many sleepless nights wrestling with funding challenges. Conversations often focused on writing grants, annual campaigns, and donor engagement, but the results stayed the same. It wasn’t until we started thinking differently that we saw real change. 🚀Imagine a nonprofit and philanthropic world where innovation drives fund development, creating sustainable impact within our organizations, where new ideas are celebrated, and risks are seen as opportunities.  🌟 In my latest Coaching Innovation Blog, Innovating Fund Development for Greater Impact, discover how embracing innovation can transform your organization's approach to funding. ❓How can nonprofits elevate their fund development strategies to create greater impact? 🧠 Cultivate a Culture of Innovation: Encourage an environment where creativity thrives, and risks are part of the growth journey. 🔍 How can you foster a culture of innovation? Reflect on your organization's openness to new ideas and discuss your risk tolerance and risk threshold. 💡 Innovation Pop-ups: Organize regular brainstorming sessions to bring together diverse perspectives and generate innovative new fund development strategies. When we create a culture of innovation that leverages technology and embraces diverse funding sources, we can transform our organizations and the communities we serve. How have you leveraged innovation to support fund development? 🔗 Check out the full article at www.Jordansydnor.com . 

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Leading a nonprofit in this uncertain moment? Check out this election scenario planning toolkit developed by The Bridgespan Group. An impressive set of resources and reflection questions to prepare for the unknown (it’s never too late) or known at some point post Election Day (and all the legal challenges). https://lnkd.in/epMs7gSV

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Shouldn't We Be "Onboarding" New Donors? Are our traditional notions of stewardship responding to one of the deepest donor desires - to belong? Have we convinced ourselves that what they want most is to be thanked and recognized? Our research shows that most donors feel sufficiently thanked but inadequately informed about the impact of their investment. But isn't the best way to inform them to show, not tell, them? Does it not make sense that the sooner we welcome and "onboard" them, the better our chances of retaining them not just as a donor but as a member of our community? And, if they feel as if they are a member of our community, will they not be more receptive to future funding requests? We know that considerate and informative onboarding is a key factor in employee retention, so does it not stand to reason that the same would be true for new donors? Some of the best onboarding practices for new staff, according to Kelly Main of Forbes magazine, include: ⏺ Give out a welcome package ⏺ Make the first day exciting ⏺ Share your definition of success ⏺ Stay true to your culture ⏺ Check in regularly ⏺ Involve senior leaders Is one of the major reasons we lose so many first-time donors that we don't welcome them into our organizations and provide them materials and experiences that make them feel like insiders and valued members of our community? Wouldn't a more formal and systematic onboarding approach greatly increase our chances of retaining them for years to come? https://lnkd.in/eCFnAkV9

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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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💡 If you work with non-profits, then it’s no secret that it's getting harder and harder for them to reach their fundraising objectives. As a foundation or fonds de dotation (French endowment fund) a simple way help is to provide multi-year funding.   👇This article from KV Philanthropy Consulting offers a few insights as multi-year vs one-off donations and what impacts they can have for both associations and foundations. Don’t hesitate to let me know what you think! (Vous trouvez également la version française via le lien ci-dessous) #Donation #Multiyear #foundation #fondsdedotation #nonprofit #charity #association #grantmaking #fundraising #philanthropy

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To Find Your Best Fundraising Opportunities, Remember: A significant portion of donors are underwhelmed or dissatisfied with their giving experience, including yours. You may have assumed that are satisfied because they continue to give and continued to be stewarded. Yet we so often fail to realize that few donors are dissatisfied with their personal treatment but underwhelmed by: ⏹ The lack of a compelling plan to more fully realize your mission promise ⏹ The insufficiency of information about concrete, specific, sustainable differences being made ⏹ The absence of major-gift-worthy ideas Donors want to be feel a part of something bigger than themselves but too often are met with small administrative concerns. They want to contribute to an organization that is attacking the root causes of societal concerns but too often are presented band-aid budget-balancing concepts. They want to hear from those who are delivering essential services and making incremental progress notwithstanding great challenges but all too often are treated with gauzy, rah-rah rhetoric from on high. Too often we assume stewardship is about thanking and recognizing but our research shows the vast majority of donors feel adequately thanked but under-involved in mission delivery and under-informed about mission impact. So job one is to check in with your donors, find out what they feel is missing, and to respond to their philanthropic yearnings. You can then bring on more supporters by remembering the same lessons. A significant portion of donors at other organizations are similarly dissatisfied or underwhelmed, including those giving to prominent and seemingly successful organizations. You can dislodge and ultimately win over donors from those organizations if you provide what they are not getting at other organizations but only if: ⏺ You put forward fundraising concepts that are society-serving, that demonstrate how to give through your organization not just to it for mundane needs ⏺ You demonstrate how donors will be a part of the action and provided an inside view of mission delivery ⏺ You establish the means of creating regular conversation with donors so you can learn from their most rewarding philanthropic experiences and avoid replicating their most dissatisfying and under-whelming ones. The tactical imitation, lack of strategic imagination and formula playing, albeit with the latest tech, that pervades our field won't allow us retain or optimize the potential of the donors we already have much less fetch new ones.

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Simple changes make a huge difference, directly and indirectly. ELMINA B SEWALL FOUNDATION we offer alternatives to a report: sending in a report created for another funder, having a conversation with the program lead, answering 3 to 4 open ended questions, or in some instances, attending a convening or small group conversation with other grantee partners where staff capture themes from the conversation. we want to learn about the field, about the organization as a whole, what opportunities and challenges they seez what trends they see and what they're excited about. we also turn the lens on ourselves as we know one of the few things we can actually control is how we impact our partners. We want to learn how to be a good partner and what else we can do to support our partners as we are committed to their success.

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As the giving season approaches, it's natural to reflect on where our contributions can make the most meaningful impact. When considering a community-based nonprofit, I’m often asked what key question we should ask a nonprofit before I give. My answer might surprise you: What do the nonprofit's beneficiaries say about it? It's essential to understand if the organization genuinely seeks and values the opinions of those it serves. At the heart of charitable giving lies a shared desire to support transformative programs that uplift and benefit communities. However, the success of these programs hinges on whether the nonprofit is truly attuned to the needs and wishes of the people it aims to help. For instance, you may find the most efficient food bank in the U.S., but if the staff are not welcoming, or if the food doesn’t align with the dietary needs of the clients, it can discourage them from seeking assistance. Just as in a marketplace, recipients often have their own choices and aspirations; if there's a disconnect between what's offered and what's truly needed, even the best programs can fall short. So, take a moment to ask the nonprofit: How do you incorporate the views of your recipients in shaping your programs? What feedback have you received, and how have you made changes to better align with their needs? Hearing their responses can provide invaluable insight and help you distinguish between good nonprofits and those truly making a difference. To assist in identifying organizations that prioritize feedback, Charity Navigator and Stand Together have launched the Beneficiary Voices Causeway Fund. This initiative features highly-rated nonprofits deeply committed to incorporating beneficiary feedback, ensuring that the voices of those they serve are heard and respected. All of these nonprofits are community-focused, and dedicated to providing essential services that resonate with their beneficiaries. So, as you consider where to direct your generosity, don’t hesitate to ask: How do the beneficiaries view this charity? Your thoughtful inquiry can lead to supporting organizations that are genuinely making a positive impact in the lives of those they serve. Stand Together

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Is your nonprofit facing a capital need? Here’s a great resource to help you determine the priorities and strategies necessary to succeed. #christianschoolfundraising #nonprofitfundraising #capitalcampaigns #feasibilitystudies

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Much of the work we do at Building Impact Partners is about helping donors get more money moving to where it’s most needed. My first book, Money with Meaning (https://bit.ly/3CHmwtv) is part of that effort. It's written as a DIY guide for donors looking for more meaningful giving--where social impact and personal fulfillment come together. I launched the book back in June 2023, I am so grateful for all the help, support and encouragement from friends and colleagues, helping the book hit #1 in the Philanthropy, Charity and Nonprofit Fundraising categories on Amazon, not only in launch week but a couple times since then. One of the best parts has been hearing stories directly from readers about how it has made a difference in their lives and helped them gear up their giving. So why am I posting about this now? Because the end of year giving season is upon us and there is still so much untapped potential in philanthropy--literally trillions of dollars on the sidelines. This is the unique time of year when many donors who’ve been putting off their giving start to give it more attention. This giving season feels all the more pivotal because over the past year or so many of us who work in the philanthropy and fundraising space have been hearing from amazing leaders and organizations that they have started to hit a wall in their fundraising efforts. Even as many organizations are doing their best work in a world that is literally and figuratively on fire, many are growing beyond their base of existing donors and running out of folks to ask. I know from what readers have already shared that this book can really make a difference. But one of the challenges with a niche book like this is that conventional marketing isn’t a great way to reach the book’s core audience of wealthy individuals and their advisors. This is an audience for whom personal recommendations and word of mouth go a particularly long way.    So, if you’re game to help boost this book, please help spread the word--whether by sharing this post, buying a copy, gifting a copy, writing a review or recommending it to someone you know. I’ve created a simple 30-second form (https://bit.ly/4fWsc1L) with options for how to help (plenty of which don’t require you to have a rolodex full of wealthy would-be donors!) If you complete the form we’ll follow up with you directly to make next steps fast and easy. Asking for help isn’t always easy, but I definitely feel more comfortable doing so because I believe that getting this book into more people’s hands has potential benefits not only for those who read it--but also for extraordinary social entrepreneurs who will benefit from the resources that flow when more people begin taking action to gear up their giving.   With much gratitude! --Alex

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💡 Fundraising Public Policy Update: If your organization encourages donors to give Qualified Charitable Distributions to support your work, inflation adjustments for 2025 have been announced. The IRS recently published Notice 2024-80, which states that the outright QCD limit will increase from $105,000 to $108,000 per person, and the amount of a once per lifetime QCD made directly to a CGA or CRT will increase from $53,000 to $54,000. After the turn of the year, don't forget to review any marketing materials - both print and online - that mention QCD limits. https://lnkd.in/gKZDsQ8v

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Learn the steps for making a professional capital campaign solicitation that we train our committee members to use. Read now!

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If We Truly Valued the Donors We Had Wouldn't we: Survey and/or interview them about what institutional attributes they find most important and impressive to ensure we hire fundraisers who embody them? Tell fundraisers their most important job is to perpetuate and deepen relationships with those assigned to their portfolios? Require fundraisers to demonstrate that they have studied donor profiles and developed engagement plans attuned to their donors' passions and sensitivities? Equip fundraisers with questions to ask so they can fill gaps in those donors' records to ensure they are managed well over time? Check in with those donors after a few months to make sure all is going well with their new development officer? Work with the development officer to learn what each donor does and does not want to receive knowing how many complain of being bombarded with information? Make sure any solicitation is well-thought-out and respectful as evidenced by the number of conversations preceding it and interest expressed by the donor in a particular initiative? Conduct annual stewardship interviews or surveys to make sure donors feel that their gifts have been well-stewarded and they feel respectfully treated, then compare results year over year to make sure gaps are not growing? Show fundraisers how they can help donors develop multiple connections to the organization? Yet, how often do we see fundraisers: Selected on the basis of bravado Pushed into the field with too little training and no review of their plans Expected to solicited after a set number of visits with no review as to whether what is being solicited aligns with donors' interests Not required to show evidence of relationship or affinity building Gone after two years so that donors not only experience giving fatigue but breaking-in-new-fundraiser fatigue So let's be honest. While many organizations have a stewardship office, few have anything that looks like an asset management plan or the awareness of how important one is. Despite what we give lip service to, is it not a fact that we care little about how positive an impression our fundraisers make or how well they treat their donors as long as they bring home some bacon? So here's the lesson that must penetrate or our thick organizational skulls: A stewardship office, no matter how good, cannot compensate for: Leadership attitudes that treat donors like cordwood Fundraisers who don't reflect values and ideals touted by the organization Fundraising imperatives that favor insensitive fundraisers or desensitize good ones Donors being made to feel like ATMs accessed by revolving fundraisers Inappropriate or inept solicitations Most organization leave much too much to chance. They need to build awareness around donors as invaluable organizational assets and, at minimum, hold themselves to ethic articulated in the Hippocratic Oath:  "I will do no harm or injustice to them."

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