There are two ways to run a year-end campaign: reactive — a scramble in late November — or proactive, built before the season ever starts making demands. One leaves money on the table every time. Here's how to make sure you're running the other.

Charitable giving just hit a record $617 billion — and about 74% of it came from individuals. I read the (very long) new Giving USA report so you don't have to. Here's what it found, and what it means for your nonprofit's fundraising.

If May felt like a relentless assault of political messaging, you aren’t alone. Text messages, mailed materials, signs everywhere - it was a lot. But there is one critical lesson that nonprofits can learn. Here’s why multi-channel marketing is so important to growing revenue.

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.

Not every nonprofit should lean into Halloween — or any holiday. 🎃 For some (think pet rescues or children’s programs), it’s a perfect fit. But for others, it can feel off or even alienating, especially when secular agencies spotlight one belief system while ignoring the rest. The rule of thumb? Holidays only work when they authentically reflect your mission and community.

Even if you think you aren’t… you probably are. And if you’re not acknowledging properly or promoting them, you’re likely out of compliance and leaving money on the table. With RMDs due by December 31, now is the time to put this amazing giving tool to work for your mission.

I have an unpopular opinion about Giving Tuesday: no one’s sitting around waiting for a random Tuesday to make a charitable contribution. And, in my experience, Giving Tuesday only works when it’s more than one day — stretched into weeks of heartfelt, story-driven touchpoints that make your community feel part of something real.

Picture this: it’s 10 a.m. on a Tuesday and you’re already ahead—emails sent, donors thanked, deadlines mapped. No panic, no chaos, just breathing room. Sounds impossible? It’s not. The difference between frantic fundraising and focused fundraising isn’t more hustle. It’s the systems that give you your time back.

You don’t need a million-dollar budget—or a development team the size of a small army—to raise more money. What you need is clarity, consistency, and storytelling that actually sounds like you. Growth isn’t about fancy galas or glossy reports. It’s about building the foundation that makes simple strategies work (and keep working).

If your nonprofit’s newsletter reads like a tax form, you’re not alone. Storytelling isn’t just a “nice extra”—it’s the engine that connects your mission to your donors. When you position the donor as the hero of the transformation, your message stops sounding like a monologue and starts inspiring action (and gifts).

Let’s be honest: no one gets into nonprofit work for the glamor. You show up for the mission. For the people. For the difference you believe in—even when the copier’s jammed, the budget’s tight, and the job description includes about 14 roles that weren’t on the original posting. This Labor Day, I just want to say: your work matters. To the program staff juggling 1:1 support and data entry. To the fundraisers writing emails at 9 p.m. because they finally found the right words

There’s a moment in almost every nonprofit’s life when it becomes painfully clear: A grant that used to serve you… is now just using you. I’m not saying it started that way. But if you’ve ever caught yourself twisting your program to fit the funder’s mold, scrambling to finish an overbuilt mid-year report, or losing sleep over whether the final invoice was coded just right—this post is for you. Red flags, waving. A grant doesn’t have to be toxic to be harmful. Sometimes it ju