You're looking for help with fundraising. And you know what? There's no shortage of options out there. Junior fundraisers eager to prove themselves. Part-time consultants who dabble in "development." But here's what I've learned in nearly 20 years of fundraising: there's a difference between someone who can execute a single task and someone who can transform your entire revenue strategy.

Summer is the perfect time to clean up your donor database. A few hours of tactical work now will save you hours of frustration later—especially before year-end. In this guide, we walk through the practical five-step process: backup, export to Excel, hunt for duplicates, merge them, and standardize your data. Plus, we cover the reality of getting it all back into your system. Clean data means better segmentation, better E.A.T. cycles, and actual confidence in your donor targe

Most nonprofits are stuck in a vicious reactive cycle. They need money, so they ask for it. Then they forget about the donor until they need money again. My E.A.T. Method—Engage, Ask, Thank—breaks that cycle. It's a perpetual framework you can run multiple times a year, targeting different donor segments and giving behaviors. Learn how sophisticated teams use overlapping E.A.T. loops to transform casual donors into champions.

This is my last bit of advice before January 1: make sure you’re dating year-end gifts correctly. Checks, credit cards, DAFs, stock, and QCDs all play by different IRS rules, and getting them right protects donor trust. I put together a quick guide to make this easier as you close out the year.

There’s a deceptively small detail in fundraising that can make or break a relationship: a name. One wrong prefix, a lowercase first name, a duplicate record that turns “Dr. Lopez” into “Mr. Lopez”… and suddenly what should feel personal feels careless. Donors don’t always say when it bothers them — but when they do, it’s unforgettable. I’m digging into why this happens, how it snowballs, and why getting a name right builds lasting trust.

If your days feel endlessly full, you're not imagining it. Nonprofit work is generous—and relentless. Tasks that would make life easier get pushed to “later.” But this Monday, Nov 25, the Black Friday Bundle for Nonprofits drops. Chock full with 32 resources (worth $3,100) for just $97—tools that clear clutter, sharpen communication, and make stewardship effortless. When you’re supported, you don’t just keep up—you lead.

If your fundraising appeal could go out any day of the year, it’s probably not urgent enough. Urgency is what turns that’s nice into I should give right now. It’s not panic or pressure—it’s focus. Donors want to know why their gift matters today, not someday. Here’s what works: keep your appeals time-bound, spell out what’s at stake if someone waits, and give supporters a clear next step. Because when donors understand why now, they act—every time.

Donor-Advised Funds are one of the fastest-growing ways people give—but too often, nonprofits forget to mention them. ✨ That’s why I put together a quick guide to make giving via DAF embarrassingly easy: say it out loud, say it proud, celebrate it, and invite their story.

Year-end fundraising can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a one-person shop juggling all the hats. 🎩 That’s why I pulled together a quick, one-hour checklist that helps small teams (and solo fundraisers) cut through the chaos and breathe easier. It’s not about perfection—it’s about readiness. Take an hour now, and your December self will thank you.