Allyson Summers, MPA

?? ?? As acquisition gets harder and retention rates fall, don't you think it's time to reimagine our grassroots and mid-level fundraising approaches? ?? ?? ? We built our very successful direct-response fundraising programs to appeal to the Greatest and Silent generations. ?? BUT today our prospect pool (and a lot of our donor pools) are made-up of Baby Boomers and older GenX'ers. Even Millenials and Gen Z are starting to donate. The biggest changes in how folks behave are not where you shop, political affiliation, or demographics (to name a few). Yes, these things influence behavior and may be part of the broad makeup of your donor base. ?? ? So, what's the biggest factor? GENERATION. ?????? ???? Some food for thought: ? The Greatest Generation: ?? Motivated by a sense of duty and tradition ?? Often supported the same causes throughout their lives ?? Giving was usually more private ?? Regular donations (i.e., strong retention!) ?? Volunteered as part of the community, especially with religious or service organizations ? Baby Boomers: ?? Engage with causes that resonate with their personal values and experiences ?? Participate in recurring giving programs ?? Use digital media, but prefer traditional methods ?? Volunteer with causes they support ?? Couple their donations with volunteerism Have you changed your fundraising strategies AND metrics to accommodate the newest group of prospects and donors?

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The Far Side of Fundraising Tip of the Week Transactional fundraising leads to high rates of donor loss. Most organizations lose 4 out of 5 first-time donors. The more rapidly and impersonally we secure support, the more we sub-optimize giving potential and the more rapidly donors depart. High rates of donor attrition, coupled with the continue contraction of giving households, spell long-term disaster for most nonprofits. Don't follow the transactional lemmings as they plunged into the sea. Adopt sustainable practices. You may be in the minority but you will help your organization survive and eventually thrive. This one requires that you closely to see who stands out in adopting sustainable practices.

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I’m digging deep into why gatherings are so powerful in fundraising. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to build trust with your donors. Gatherings accelerate that by: - Providing a way to get to know your donors and create a sense of community and shared purpose. - Creating an opportunity to demonstrate your impact, financial credibility and vision for the future.

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Question for nonprofit organizations. What is your policy for covering the costs of events? - Do events need to pay for themselves via sponsorships and/or tickets? - Do set aside funds from your operating budget from the onset of the year? - Do you have a mixture of the two? I've heard from organizations whose policy is that each event has to be fully covered and others who are willing to take up to 60% of a loss. It really might depend on the exact event and how the events interact with the mission of the non-profit. But if you have any golden rule you follow, I would love to hear it in the comments.

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According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global),?overall donor retention rates hover between 40-45%. Since the cost of retaining your donors can be up to 5x cheaper than acquisition, the more donors you can retain year-over year, the more cost-effective your acquisition efforts become. The question is: HOW can your nonprofit implement an effective donor retention strategy that works with today's modern donor? Virtuous' 'Donor Retention Playbook' helps nonprofits of any size with the tactics and strategies to help retain your donors. You’ll also gain the tools to create a map for each donor segment which will act as a daily reminder to your entire team of who your target audience is and how you can reach them. Get the ebook for free: https://lnkd.in/efS8N4W6

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In a recent meeting with a client about strategies to engage major donors, they said?"we don't have time to build relationships with funders!"?I've heard similar responses over the years as a consultant,?but for some reason this time it really hit me: this key aspect of development (especially major gift fundraising) is precisely the thing nonprofit leaders often just don't have time to do. In the frenzy and everything-is-a-priority aspect?of our work, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we don't have time to nurture and build key relationships. But, given how important this activity is to the?sustainability and success of your organization, finding time -- or maybe?making?the?time -- is critical.?I share more on how to make this time and to best use the little time you have in my?April blog post?on cultivating and forging strong ties with donors. https://lnkd.in/gqUrPcuU

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Grant Application FAQs! Have questions about finding and applying for grants? We've got you covered! Here are some key FAQs to help you navigate the process: Q1: How do I find available grants for my business? A1: You can search through government websites, local business organizations, and grant databases. QT Business Solutions is here to help you identify grants that fit your business needs! Q2: What documents do I need to apply for a grant? A2: Typically, you'll need a detailed business plan, financial statements, proof of business registration, and a clear explanation of how you'll use the grant funds. Q3: How long does the grant application process take? A3: The timeline can vary significantly. Some applications take a few weeks, while others may take several months. It's important to plan ahead and apply early! Q4: Can QT Business Solutions help me with my grant application? A4: Absolutely! We provide guidance on writing business plans, organizing your financial documents, and completing the grant application process to increase your chances of success. Follow us to stay updated on available grants and more tips! #Grants #BusinessFunding #QTBusinessSolutions #EntrepreneurTips #SmallBusinessSupport

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There remains great pockets of wealth out there and individuals who are determined to use their wealth to make a positive impact. We can help you develop and implement a plan to engage and leverage those that would support your cause.

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#Myth: Successful fundraising events happen without detailed planning. #Fact: Success begins with a strategic plan. Tailored consulting, from item curation to event layout, ensures a seamless evening that captivates your audience and maximizes donations.

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Did you know that having a professional website and active social media will help you get approved for grants? Make this a priority for your organization. Contact us today to learn more! https://lnkd.in/gKs4epSz ????Inspiring Meaningful Progress And Change Together. #Grant #GrantWriting #Nonprofits #nonprofit #Charity #GrantWriters #CertifiedGrantWriter #PersonalizedConsultation

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?? Check out the 2024 Advancement Leaders Speak Report for insights from top fundraising leaders. Discover findings across 6 key areas: ? Fundraising priorities and strategies ? Tracking donor pipelines ? Staffing challenges ? Use of AI in fundraising ? Messaging to broader audiences ? Engaging younger donors Read the full report now: https://bit.ly/4eNNEoQ #Fundraising #DonorEngagement

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To Find Your Best Fundraising Opportunities, Remember: A significant portion of donors are underwhelmed or dissatisfied with their giving experience, including yours. You may have assumed that are satisfied because they continue to give and continued to be stewarded. Yet we so often fail to realize that few donors are dissatisfied with their personal treatment but underwhelmed by: ? The lack of a compelling plan to more fully realize your mission promise ? The insufficiency of information about concrete, specific, sustainable differences being made ? The absence of major-gift-worthy ideas Donors want to be feel a part of something bigger than themselves but too often are met with small administrative concerns. They want to contribute to an organization that is attacking the root causes of societal concerns but too often are presented band-aid budget-balancing concepts. They want to hear from those who are delivering essential services and making incremental progress notwithstanding great challenges but all too often are treated with gauzy, rah-rah rhetoric from on high. Too often we assume stewardship is about thanking and recognizing but our research shows the vast majority of donors feel adequately thanked but under-involved in mission delivery and under-informed about mission impact. So job one is to check in with your donors, find out what they feel is missing, and to respond to their philanthropic yearnings. You can then bring on more supporters by remembering the same lessons. A significant portion of donors at other organizations are similarly dissatisfied or underwhelmed, including those giving to prominent and seemingly successful organizations. You can dislodge and ultimately win over donors from those organizations if you provide what they are not getting at other organizations but only if: ? You put forward fundraising concepts that are society-serving, that demonstrate how to give through your organization not just to it for mundane needs ? You demonstrate how donors will be a part of the action and provided an inside view of mission delivery ? You establish the means of creating regular conversation with donors so you can learn from their most rewarding philanthropic experiences and avoid replicating their most dissatisfying and under-whelming ones. The tactical imitation, lack of strategic imagination and formula playing, albeit with the latest tech, that pervades our field won't allow us retain or optimize the potential of the donors we already have much less fetch new ones.

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