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THINK LIKE A DONOR

One of my favorite DBD axioms is “Listen the gift.” We use this as we coach our clients through a major or transformational gift ask. Listening to our prospect is an important piece of the puzzle in creating a meaningful outcome for the donor and the organization.

After the disruption of the past four years, it seems a great time to pause and think differently – not just about the organization, changing demographics, AI, or the shifts in technology that are all affecting our fundraising, but about our donors. They are the heart of it all. 

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Topics: Donor Stewardship, Stewardship, Fundraising, Financial Development, Annual Fundraising, Donor Engagement, Donor Relations, Fund Development, Development

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE DAF

Posted by Mary Ramirez

Many nonprofits wonder how to identify people who have DAFs and how to get their cause in front of them. It can be a little complicated but with some investigation into how the DAF is administered, you can find the person behind the DAF and start to share your mission and impact with them. Let’s explore...

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Topics: Fundraising, Financial Development, Annual Fundraising, Donor Engagement, Foundation, Donor Relations, Fund Development, Development, Donor Advised Funds

BOARD MEETINGS DON'T HAVE TO BE BORED MEETINGS

Posted by Richard Clegg

Have you ever wondered why are some board members not engaged or even showing up to your meetings? Board meetings are a necessity for nonprofit organizations, but too often they can be boring, dry, and uninspiring.

They don’t have to be.

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Topics: Board Development, Board Management, Board Leadership, Nonprofit, Leadership & Boards

SILENCE CAN LEAD TO GOLD

Posted by Thom Peters

I knew a nonprofit director who moved from the big city to work with an organization in a small, coastal community. She left behind traffic, sirens, and hordes of people, to what most of us would call serenity. Six months into her tenure I asked how she was enjoying the small-town life. Her reply surprised me as she said the quiet was very difficult for her, even making it hard to sleep at night. Within a year, she was back to the big city.

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Topics: Fundraising, Donor Engagement

DBD PODCAST: TRUST AND LEADERSHIP

Posted by DBD Team

 

Bruce Berglund, CEO and Founder of DBD Group interviews Cory Scheer, Founder of TrustCentric about the role of trust in leadership. In this 35 minute conversation, they talk about strategies to measure, build and repair trust in teams and organizations. 

Learn more about TrustCentric and Cory Scheer, or check out his new book.

Learn more about Bruce Berglund, CEO and Founder of DBD Group or follow him on LinkedIn.



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Topics: Podcast, Board Leadership, Nonprofit, board governance

GET GREAT AT NON-CASH GIVING

A Changing Landscape

You’ve probably heard the phrase “cash is king.” But is that still true?

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Topics: Fundraising, Individual Philanthropy, Annual Fundraising, Donor Advised Funds

STREAMLINE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Posted by Lindsay Casavant

As we all strive to foster stronger connections with diverse communities and supporters, we know that effective communication strategies play a key role. Whether you are raising awareness for a cause, mobilizing volunteers, or fundraising, the ability to communicate your message and tell your story clearly and in a compelling way is crucial.  

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Topics: Communications, Stewardship, Donor Communications

USING STRATEGIC PLANNING TO GET HEALTHIER

Posted by Richard Clegg

I used to have a New Year's resolutions ritual. Same goals, same treadmill drudgery, same disappointing results. Someone once said “insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting different results.”* What if I turned my consulting expertise and experience toward my personal goals? Could strategic planning finally be the solution to getting healthier? With my notepad and a new insight, I explored my health goals like I was facilitating a nonprofit’s strategic planning process.

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Topics: Strategy, Planning, strategic planning

THE MILLION DOLLAR BUNDT CAKE

Posted by Jason Fry

Years ago, I was working with a very skilled major gifts officer. She had a donor, Elizabeth, who was in her 90s and who was very loyal to the organization. However, this staff member had tried contacting Elizabeth over and over through e-mail or by phone and leaving voicemails. As much as she tried diligently to get in touch with Elizabeth, she was unsuccessful. She started telling herself a variety of stories. Maybe something is wrong or she’s sick? Maybe I upset her with all my emails. Maybe she heard something negative about our organization? Maybe I offended her by asking her for money? Maybe she died?

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Topics: Success Stories, Donor Stewardship, Stewardship, Fundraising, Donor Communications, Financial Development, Donor Management, Donor Relations, Fund Development

TRY SOMETHING NEW WITH YOUR BOARD

Posted by Brian Keel

As the new year rolls in, many nonprofits are embarking on a brand-new budget, with clean slates, fresh aspirations, and strategies poised for success. You may also find your organization with a new class of volunteers on your board of directors, fresh faces on committees and perhaps even new staff members on your team.

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Topics: Leadership, Volunteer, Volunteer Leadership, Board Development, Volunteer Management, Nonprofit Leadership, Board Management, Board Leadership, finance

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