The Fundraising Authority — Tools and information for schools, churches, and other non-profits…

Welcome to The Fundraising Authority! Be sure to check out our Fundraising Basics and Article Archives for tons of great fundraising information.

A Simple Trick for Using the First Hour of Your Fundraising Day

I’m a big believer in the idea that you should prioritize your workday, getting the most important, energy-draining, creative work done first, before you get to the daily grind of thank you notes, data entry, e-mails, etc. It’s a hard thing to do – when you arrive at your non-profit’s office, there’s a lot of […]

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How to Have a Fundraising Breakthrough

Most non-profits I know are ready for a fundraising breakthrough… They’re ready to move from simply surviving, operating check to check and donor to donor — all the way to thriving, where they can focus on missions and programs without wondering how they can keep the lights on and the bills paid. If your non-profit […]

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Fundraising is a World of “We” not “Them”

Every week, I get e-mails from well-meaning fundraisers talking about “them.” Sometimes, it’s a non-profit that wants to raise more money, but doesn’t want to ask their donors or board for any more help. But, we know there are lots of big donors in our city. How do we reach “them” with a letter? Other […]

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Here’s How to Raise More Money with Your Next Fundraising Letter

I am in the middle of writing a direct mail fundraising letter for a non-profit client, and tomorrow I will be presenting the letter to them, and explaining why it will be effective. And it got me thinking… there are really only three things that separate super-successful fundraising letters from ones that are just mediocre. […]

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Why Monthly Giving Matters for Every Non-Profit

Launching a monthly giving program can be a powerful strategy for non-profits both large and small. Studies over the past decade have shown that monthly givers give more money and stay with a non-profit longer than non-monthly givers. Here are some of the reasons why monthly giving is so important for every non-profit: Monthly Donors […]

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3 Quick Ways to Raise More Money at Your Next Event. #2 Works Particularly Well

Fundraising events are a staple of non-profit development. Yet so many organizations that rely on events are consistently disappointed with the amount they raise through this method. Today, we present three quick tips for raising more money at your next fundraising event: #1 – Track Attendees for Future Fundraising Events Most non-profits take down contact […]

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The 4 Questions You Need to Ask to See if Your Fundraising is On the Right Track

If you’re wondering whether or not your fundraising is headed in the right direction, I’ve got news for you: healthy development programs require a lot more than just steadily increasing revenue. Sure, raising more this year than last year is important, but to be certain that your growth is sustainable, you need more. In working […]

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Fundraising Authority Podcast #15: Motivating Your Board to Raise More Money

One of the most common questions we receive from fundraisers is how to get a board of directors more enthusiastic about raising money. Is it really possible for board members to be excited about – and good at – fundraising? On today’s episode of The Fundraising Authority Podcast, we get answers from Gail Perry, author […]

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Can Stronger Systems Make You a Better Fundraiser?

As non-profit fundraisers, we are often focused on the urgency of our front-line activities… We need new prospects. Now! Our organization has to raise $10,000 more. This week! I promised the board I would add 500 new names to the e-mail list. I better find some names pronto! With the amount of work to be […]

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How to Write Fundraising E-Mails that Get Results

Most e-mails you send out from your non-profit should be designed to build relationships, not raise money. They should be newsletters, updates, stories from your program staff, and resources for your donors to use. My recommendation is that you send out 3 or 4 cultivation e-mails for every solicitation e-mail that goes out to your […]

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