The Nonprofit Mentor

Your Board Isn't Working: Why a Board Retreat Might Be the Best Investment Your Nonprofit Makes This Year Most nonprofit leaders know the scene. You're sitting in a board meeting watching the same three people carry the conversation while two members scroll their phones, one asks a question already answered in the pre-read materials, and another slips out early because "something came up." The mee...

Building a Donor Pipeline BEFORE You need It! Here's a truth most development directors don't want to admit out loud: Your donor base is quietly shrinking. Not because you're doing bad work. Not because your mission isn't compelling. Not because your fundraising team isn't trying. But because donors are human. They retire. They relocate. They redirect their giving. They get distracted by grandkids...

Board Retreat Blunders and Mistakes that Sabotage Retreats Board retreats are supposed to be powerful. They're supposed to create clarity, alignment, momentum, unity, and ownership. They're meant to be the moment when a board steps out of the day-to-day grind and finally gets honest about where the board is—and where it's going. Instead? Too many retreats feel like a long, expensive meeting with b...

Part 3 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies Most fundraisers spend far too much time worrying about the "perfect ask," as if somewhere out there is one magical sentence that makes every donor instantly reach for a checkbook. There isn't. Fundraising is not a Jedi mind trick, and donors are not slot machines you jiggle until money falls out.   The truth is mu...

Part 2 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies Most fundraisers spend far too much time worrying about the "perfect ask," as if somewhere out there is one magical sentence that makes every donor instantly reach for a checkbook. There isn't. Fundraising is not a Jedi mind trick, and donors are not slot machines you jiggle until money falls out. The truth is much...

Part 1 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies Most fundraisers spend far too much time worrying about the "perfect ask," as if somewhere out there is one magical sentence that makes every donor instantly reach for a checkbook. There isn't. Fundraising is not a Jedi mind trick, and donors are not slot machines you jiggle until money falls out. The truth is much...

If you've spent any time in fundraising, you know this moment well.   You send the email, make the call and follow up—politely, professionally, thoughtfully. And then… nothing. No reply. No acknowledgment. No signal of interest or disinterest. Just silence.     For many fundraisers, donor silence feels personal. It triggers doubt. Did I say the wrong thing? Did I wait too long? Did they lose confi...

The "Notify First" Trick There's one move that can turn your ho-hum year-end appeal into a home run:  notify first ! Before you send a single email or stuff a single envelope, reach out to donors—by phone or email—and announce your campaign is coming. This one act can boost your response rate up to five times higher. If you actually reach a donor and they feel connected to your cause, half of them...

Fear not! To raise money, you and your fellow board members don't have to cold call strangers (or worse, friends), or suffer through awkward donor coffees where you feel like the people at the table next to you are eavesdropping on your shaky pitch. Nope. There's an alternative. It's a heck of a lot easier for board members to do things that  support the fundraising efforts of the organization, ra...

Fundraising—it's part charm offensive, part emotional trapeze act, part caffeine-fueled chaos. Some days you feel like a philanthropic superhero, and other days you're crying into your donor database while searching for the 'undo' button. But you don't have to go it alone. Enter the Rainmakers: the mythical, magical, magnificently strategic fundraisers who know how to play the long game—with flair...

Your first face-to-face meeting with a donor isn't a sales pitch or interview. And it's definitely not the time to comb through the details for your 30-page strategic plan. It's a discovery conversation—a delightful dance where you listen, learn, and laugh. Apply the following 10 tactics to get your first meeting right and the odds of landing a second meeting (and ultimately a donation) jump to mo...

Here's a crash course in what "not" to do when fundraising, what donors secretly loathe, and a short list of how to ask for money without breaking into hives. Listen in and learn . . .

Ah, the board retreat. A magical time when board members gather to dive into strategic discussions, unleash big ideas, and nod sagely at visionary plans. You laugh, you brainstorm, you may even awkwardly roleplay. By the end, you've covered walls with stickies and flipchart paper, deepened your culture, and high-fived over fresh possibilities. And then…  nothing . Everyone returns home. Retreat ou...

Fundraisers know that most donor objections boil down to just two things: the amount you're asking for and the timing of the ask. But here's the good news—both are manageable. In this article, you'll discover practical tactics to navigate these common roadblocks, plus smart ways to handle the trickier, less common objections that inevitably pop up. By the end, you'll not only be ready to face obje...

Encountering objections when asking donors for money is a given. One tactic for handling objections would be to develop and memorize canned responses to every possible type of objec­tion. Experienced fundraisers know this tactic is futile, because a simple "ask" often triggers an avalanche of donor replies, ranging from polite deflections to excuses worthy of an improv show. A more effective appro...

Experienced fundraisers know objections are part of the ask process, which is why they embrace them. There are dozens of reasons why donors throw caution signs that feel like red lights. What follows is a high-level primer that unpacks why donors hesitate, paired with clear principles for handling those objections with confidence—so you can turn tough questions into lasting commitments. Listen in...

Cultivation is the golden hour before the ask. It's when you introduce someone to your nonprofit, show them the heart behind the stats, the faces behind the facts, and the mission behind the jargon. And it isn't just about raising money—it's about raising friends, champions, connectors, and believers. Done well, cultivation deepens emotional connection, builds trust, and turns a casual observer in...

As fundraisers, we know that while individual giving dominates, finding the right foundation, corporate, or government grant can give your budget a real boost. Many of these funding sources make large, multiyear commitments, and for some nonprofits, these sources of funding are their only sources of funding. And while unlocking these sources of funding can rain down large sums of money, they can a...

Wait! A NEW type of board retreat!? One that's more engaging and more effective? No way. Check this out . . . ED's and board chairs know the routine all too well: gather the board in a nice setting, walk through the strategic plan, review the budget, and set some goals. There may be catered lunches and polished presentations, but often, even the most well-run retreats feel like slightly upgraded b...

Encouraging donors to increase their contributions is a delicate endeavor. This podcast explores several practical and effective tactics to achieve the balance needed to inspire donors to give more generously while maintaining their trust and enthusiasm without alienating or pressuring them. Tune in now!

Did you know that 53% of donors stop giving because they feel unappreciated, and 41% cite lack of acknowledgment or thanks as their reason? Conversely, loyal donors give 42% more over their lifetime and are 70% more likely to leave a planned gift. These numbers underscore the critical need for nonprofits to build and implement a robust stewardship plan. Without it, donors can feel like transaction...

If you're tired of your board meddling in the daily operations of your nonprofit . . . this podcast is for you!

Nonprofit boards play a critical role in guiding the organizations they serve, helping steer decisions, ensuring fiscal health, and offering strategic oversight. However, one glaring issue that's often swept under the rug is the lack of prompt responses to communications from executive directors and staff. Emails and important requests from staff frequently go unanswered or receive delayed respons...

Plan Early for a Stress-Free, High-Impact Session Planning a strategic session for your nonprofit can be one of the most impactful moments of the year—a chance to reset, strategize, and inspire your team. But let's be honest: waiting until the last minute to plan such an important event can lead to unnecessary stress, limited options, and a lackluster experience. On the flip side, planning early o...

Have you ever sat through a board retreat and thought, "What a waste of time!" You're squished in a windowless room, squirming in a chair that feels like granite, and longing for the next break. Worse yet, the facilitator is boring, the content is useless, board members are texting, and the food is stale! If you're in the process of planning a retreat, don't settle! It's possible to put together a...