Rae J. Ryan

#DRGTip: How to Build Donor Engagement Programs Your Gift Officers Will Love How do you build donor engagement programs that your donors and gift officers will love? DRG's Jan McGuire and Colton Withers discuss what should be included in your donor engagement plans (and what shouldn't). #DonorEngagement #GiftOfficers #NonprofitStrategy #DonorRelations

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Are you struggling to secure funding for your upcoming projects or needs? Don't wait until the last minute - involve your Program staff early on to ensure a successful and timely grant proposal. Read on for tips to coordinate Grants with program launches, and ensure you have necessary staff bios/resumes, so you have that competitive edge in your grant applications. https://lnkd.in/eZMNG9n7 #nonprofitgrants #fundingopportunities #programmanagement

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If you work for a small nonprofit like I do, you probably know that it's hard to find time to work on planned giving. Planned gifts don't usually help you reach that all-important year-end fundraising goal, and there's a lot of technical terminology that, as a new fundraiser, you may not feel confident in discussing with donors. Here's how to get started:

I wish I would have had a training like this when I was new to grants and development. I was lucky to have a very skilled mentor with Megan Campbell, MPA, GPC. Even with her guidance, I had to learn so much from “trial and error” training while on the job. That’s not the best way to raise critical funds for the people and communities you’re serving. Nothing can replace professional training when it comes to grants and development. Believe me, “trial and error” training will cost you a lot more in the long run and leave you feeling exhausted and defeated. Take the time, make the investment, and learn the professional skills you need to help you reach your goals more efficiently and with confidence. See registration info below. #Fundraising

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PSA: Stop neglecting your second-year donors. We’re often so excited about new donors that we unintentionally neglect our second-year donors. But I’m here to remind you that those second-year donors are not yet loyal to your cause — so stop neglecting them! Second-year donors are the gateway to higher revenue per donor … but it’s up to you to get them there. Key multi-year donors (those who give in 3 consecutive years) account for a lot of revenue and appear to have the lowest attrition rates. BUT... Your donors are unlikely to give in that third year if you neglect them in their second. So put a little more emphasis on your second-year donors—chances are, your competitors aren't. #DonorRetention #NonProfit #Fundraising #OnlineFundraising #NextAfter

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In a recent meeting with a client about strategies to engage major donors, they said "we don't have time to build relationships with funders!" I've heard similar responses over the years as a consultant, but for some reason this time it really hit me: this key aspect of development (especially major gift fundraising) is precisely the thing nonprofit leaders often just don't have time to do. In the frenzy and everything-is-a-priority aspect of our work, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we don't have time to nurture and build key relationships. But, given how important this activity is to the sustainability and success of your organization, finding time -- or maybe making the time -- is critical. I share more on how to make this time and to best use the little time you have in my April blog post on cultivating and forging strong ties with donors. https://lnkd.in/gqUrPcuU

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New Gallup Poll reports managers think they are far better at their jobs then their employees do. Bob, Laurel, and I discuss the poll, reasons for the disparity, and possible solutions (and free tools) to help managers up their game. https://lnkd.in/eVSfUpiG

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What You're Looking for in Donors vs. What They're Looking for In You When I hear what traits nonprofit leaders want in donors the list includes: 🔹 Believe in us 🔹 Trust us 🔹 Give us what we need 🔹 Don't burden us with your expectations 🔹 Don't be too needy 🔹 Be supportive 🔹 Let us grow 🔹 Take pride in what we do 🔹 Cheer us on 🔹 Affirm our importance 🔹 Be there when we need you 🔹 Don't ever change That sounds to me as we are projecting the role of the parent - the ideal parent - onto the donor. Donors are also looking for traits associated with good parenting in deciding which organizations to support, including: 🔸 Give us someone we can look up to 🔸 Set a good example 🔸 Keep your promises 🔸 Appreciate us for who we are 🔸 Treat us like adults 🔸 Validate our success and our competence 🔸 Talk to us, not down to us 🔸 Give us a real role in the family 🔸 Don't make us sit at the small table 🔸 When we ask why don't say, "Because I said so." 🔸 Don't act like you're perfect 🔸 Let us learn from your mistakes 🔸 Make us feel welcome and welcomed back Leadership requires us to not only give up our search for our ideal parent but to become the parent. Leadership is service - to mission and to the community we hope will advance it. The better the parent we become, the more philanthropy and dedication we engender.

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I’m digging deep into why gatherings are so powerful in fundraising. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to build trust with your donors. Gatherings accelerate that by: - Providing a way to get to know your donors and create a sense of community and shared purpose. - Creating an opportunity to demonstrate your impact, financial credibility and vision for the future.

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