When I came back to work at my alma mater in 2011, they had just celebrated the Centennial the year before. The mailing they sent out for the 100-year mark was gorgeous – vintage photos, heavy cardstock, elegant fonts. You could see the pride in every detail.

But there was one big problem.

It cost more to send than it brought in.

When I ran the numbers, the cost to raise a dollar on that piece was $1.40. For every dollar it generated, it cost us $1.40 to get it. We weren’t raising money – we were losing it. It was like we were throwing money overboard and missing a once in a century opportunity!

The issue wasn’t just the over-the-top production. The package was confusing. Too many ask amounts, too many gift designations, and other options. Donors didn’t know where to focus. And when a donor doesn’t know what to do, they don’t give.

The next year, we simplified. One letter. Points of pride on the back. Clear ask string. That mailing had a cost to raise a dollar of 43 cents.
​
Same donor base. Better strategy.

Cost to raise a dollar is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a measure of efficiency. You take your total expenses for a campaign or fundraising channel and divide it by the amount raised.

Formula:
Cost to raise a dollar = Total Expenses ÷ Total Dollars Raised

If you spent $10,000 and brought in $25,000, your cost to raise a dollar is $0.40. That means it cost you forty cents to raise one dollar. Good.

If your cost to raise a dollar is over $1, you’ve got a problem – if you’re not executing a donor acquisition strategy where you expect to lose money upfront to gain long-term donors who’ll give again and again for less.
​
But if you’re not acquiring or upgrading donors – and your cost to raise a dollar is that high? You’re hemorrhaging money.

Recently I was teaching a webinar and got asked whether you should track staff time on any particular fundraising effort in the total expenses when calculating cost to raise a dollar. My answer is no.

I’ve never met a fundraiser who’s sitting around wondering what to do next, and I don’t think tracking every minute of your working hours is a good use of that valuable time.

Staff salaries are in your normal budget. Consider them a constant. Don’t tie yourself in knots trying to figure out if you spent 20 hours on the gala last week or 22 hours.

Examples: For a mailing, count printing, postage and processing costs (if using a mailhouse or other paying part-time folks to stuff mailers). For an event, expenses would include catering, décor, invitations (printing, postage, and processing), printings programs, etc.
​
Keep it simple and you’ll be ahead of the game.

Fundraisers talk a lot about leaky buckets – usually in terms of donor retention. But there’s another leak that’s just as costly: spending more to raise a dollar than you get back. That’s what this metric uncovers.

Most fundraisers are trained to focus on total dollars raised or number of donors who give. And yes, those are crucial. But cost to raise a dollar gives you clarity at the tactical level. It shows you where your fundraising machine is humming – and where it’s grinding your budget into dust.

Cost to raise a dollar is especially helpful when:

• You’re evaluating different channels (direct mail vs. email vs. phonathon)
• You're preparing for a budget meetings and need simple, apples-to-apples comparisons
• Leadership is asking to cut costs, and you need to defend what’s working
• You’re trying to argue against flashy design choices or work-intensive events that don’t move the needle

That Centennial piece taught me something I’ve never forgotten: Beautiful isn’t always effective. Impact matters more than gloss.

It also gave me a compelling number to take into conversations. I could walk into meetings and say, “This mailing costs us $1.40 to raise a dollar. Last year’s only cost 43 cents. Which one do you want to fund next year?”
​
I didn’t need to yell. I just needed to know my numbers.

Some channels will have higher cost to raise a dollar – and that’s okay. Phonathons, acquisition campaigns, certain events – they often cost more. But if you’re tracking those donors and seeing strong retention and future giving, that higher initial cost might be justified. But do that deliberately, for strategic reasons.

In higher ed, campaigns like student philanthropy programs or senior class gifts often have an “upside-down” cost to raise a dollar. That’s not a failure – it’s intentional. We spend more than we bring in because we’re focused on something bigger: starting the donor relationship early, before students graduate, move away, and scatter.

While they’re still on campus, their connection to the institution is at its peak. That’s the right time to invite them into giving – not just for dollars today, but for loyalty tomorrow.

Just don’t confuse “tradition” or “looking nice” with effectiveness. Know what each dollar is doing for you. Make that a habit. Teach it to your team.

And please – for the love of fundraising – don’t let your best-looking piece be your worst-performing one.

If you’ve never calculated your cost to raise a dollar, start now. Pull your last three mailings or campaigns. Be honest about all the expenses, minus staff salaries.

Run the numbers. Then start making decisions that build toward efficiency – and impact.

This metric gives you the insight you need to be smart with the resources you’ve been trusted to steward.
​​
Cheers!

P.S. Like this kind of insight? Subscribe to Real Deal Fundraising and get my best articles, tools, and curated resources every week – including webinars, videos, and free downloads.

If you liked this…

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I’ve long been an advocate for fundraisers to be better partners with our database colleagues because they can make or break your success. And after decades of working closely with our data buddies, I can say that they often get frustrated with us because we send emails like this:

“Can you pull a list of major donors?”

That’s it. No timeline. No parameters. No context.

When data requests go off the rails, it’s usually not because anyone’s trying to be difficult. It’s because we’re talking past each other.

Fundraisers are focused on goals. Database folks are focused on parameters. You’re thinking: “I need a list of lapsed donors for a postcard.” They’re thinking: “Define lapsed. Which years? Which exclusions? What fields? What format?”

When those details don’t get nailed down up front, your request sits in the queue. Or it bounces back with more questions. Or worse – it gets filled, but it’s wrong, and now you’re scrambling.

That back-and-forth burns time and goodwill. And in fundraising, timing matters.

But – there’s no judgment here. Most fundraisers aren’t trained in how to “speak database.” You know what you need, you just might not know how to say it in a way your CRM or advancement services team can use.

That’s what this post is about. Whether you’re a frontline fundraiser, a VP, or a one-person shop trying to wear all the hats – if you rely on data to do your job (and you do), you need to know how to make a clean, effective request.

​I can help you there.

Taking five extra minutes to complete a thoughtful data request could save you five days of email ping-pong – or five weeks of waiting for a fix when something gets pulled incorrectly.

And if your project is time-sensitive? It could cost you five big gifts. Or more.

Maybe a solicitation gets delayed because someone forgot to specify an exclusion. An important donor gets left out of an event invite because the list was pulled in a rush. The details matter.

You don’t have to become a database expert. But you do need to learn how to frame your request clearly. That means giving enough context for your advancement services or CRM colleagues to:

• Understand the goal
• Identify the correct records
• Exclude the ones you don’t want
• Deliver it in a useful format
• Hit your timeline without a panic button

That’s why I created a Data Request Template, and it’s all at the end of this post. But before you copy and paste, let me walk you through the thinking behind it.

Here’s what should go into every data request you make:

Date Needed
Start with the date you want to review the file. If you have a final send date – like to a printer, email platform, or gift officer – include that too. Build in review time and ask for it at least a week ahead.

Purpose
Be specific. Are you mailing a solicitation? Sending a digital campaign? Calling for event follow-up? This helps determine the right segments and delivery method.

Overview
Write two or three sentences describing the project. This gives your colleague a mental model of what you're aiming to do and why it matters.

Prior Pull
Have you asked for a similar file before? If yes, when? If it went well, that helps them repeat the success. If it didn’t, they’ll know how to make adjustments.

Report Criteria
This is where you define who should be in the file. What makes someone eligible? Think about giving history, affiliation, geography, or whatever criteria match your goal. Think of this as a net you are throwing around the prospects you want to see.

Exclusions
Who should not be in this file? Don’t assume standard exclusions. Spell them out: Deceased, Do Not Contact, Current Students, Faculty/Staff, Current Year Donors – whatever applies. Be clear. Think of this as a boundary keeping records out that you don’t want to see.

Format
Excel, CSV, PDF? Match your needs. If you’re importing into an email platform or using it for a mail merge, say so.

Fields Needed
Don’t just say “name and address.” Think through what you actually need: email, phone number, last gift date, last gift amount, salutation lines, grad year, etc. The more precise you are, the fewer follow-ups you’ll have later.

For instance, when I request a file and I want to see giving information, I ask for the file to include: last gift date, last gift amount, last gift fund, greatest gift date, greatest gift amount, greatest gift fund, and sometimes first gift date, first gift amount, and first gift fund. Sometimes I also like to see total lifetime giving and total number of lifetime gifts too. That list is a far cry from “giving history.”

Notes
If you’re estimating 5,000 records, say so. If this is part of a campaign with other moving pieces, mention that too. Context helps your colleagues prioritize and prepare. If you already have a draft of the specific message, you can attach that. Data folks love having the whole vision.

Want to copy it straight into your next email? Here’s a quick version:
​
Date Needed:
Purpose:
Overview:
Prior Pull?:
Report Criteria:
Exclusions:
Format:
Fields:
Notes:

Clear requests build better relationships. When you send thoughtful, complete data requests, you become someone your CRM team can trust. And when they trust you, they’re faster. More responsive. More likely to go the extra mile when you’re in a crunch.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being respectful of their time – and protecting your outcomes.

​So yes, it might take five extra minutes on the front end. But that could save you five days of delays or five missed opportunities.

And those gifts? They’re worth it.

Want smoother workflows and faster data pulls? Or just want a second set of eyes on your advancement strategy? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

P.S. Like this kind of insight?
Subscribe to Real Deal Fundraising and get my best articles, tools, and curated resources every week – including webinars, videos, and free downloads.

If you liked this…

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Let’s be honest: a lot of “fundraising plans” aren’t really plans.

They’re a collection of ideas scribbled in the margins of a notebook. A to-do list that gets buried under meeting notes. Or a spreadsheet no one has opened since last fiscal year.

And when things feel uncertain or urgent, even the most well-intentioned plan gets abandoned.
​
So why do most fundraising plans fail? After 20+ years of working in and coaching nonprofit teams, here’s what I’ve seen over and over again:

Too many plans are built for imaginary versions of our organizations. You know the ones: the org with unlimited time, a full development team, and a budget for days. In real life, you’ve got a stretched-thin staff, a volunteer board, and one printer that jams every third sheet.

The best fundraising plans start where you are. They work with your current capacity – not against it. They help you make choices, not just lists.

Staff turnover is one of the biggest challenges that can set you back in fundraising and burnout is often the cause. If you build your plan around the staff you have and use technology to leverage that plan, you can mitigate burnout and turnover.

If your plan doesn’t tell you how much money you can expect to raise – and from which methods – it’s not a plan. It’s a wish list.

A strong fundraising plan includes projections based on past data, average gift sizes, and realistic conversion rates. This lets you set expectations, allocate resources wisely, and make the case for investments when needed. I did an entire blog post showing you how to build those projections so you know what you are able to raise, not just what you wish you would raise.

No more spaghetti-on-the-wall fundraising. Just clear goals with measurable outcomes.

​Even when a plan exists, it often fails at the handoff: no one knows who’s doing what – or worse, everyone thinks someone else is handling it.

That’s why the final step of a good plan is assigning each task to a specific person. And then assigning a backup person to be cross-trained. This keeps your plan running when life happens – vacations, sick days, job changes – and builds resilience into your team. That’s why I wrote about building a responsibility calendar to protect your plan and ensure it becomes real.

No more scrambling. Everyone knows their role, and the show goes on.

It’s clear. It’s doable. And it starts with what I call the MVPPP Framework, which is part of my Smart Start Fundraising System course:

• Message – Your compelling case for support
• Vehicles – The channels you’ll use to reach donors
• Prospects – Who you’re asking
• Partners – Who’s helping you ask
• Plan – Bringing it all together with structure and accountability

This framework works whether you’re a one-person shop or leading a full advancement team. It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things on purpose.

My new course, The Smart Start Fundraising System, is officially here! It’s designed for nonprofit leaders who are tired of spinning their wheels and ready to raise more  –  strategically, confidently, and without burnout.

🎯 Inside, you'll learn how to craft a compelling message, choose the right methods, identify and engage donors, mobilize your board, and build a plan you can actually execute  –  all using my proven MVPPP framework.

✅ 5 Pre-approved CFRE credit hours available
✅ Four high-impact bonus trainings included
✅ A 21 page workbook plus tools, templates, and spreadsheets you can plug and play
💻 Enrollment is open now! Price is $549

Take a look, see what’s inside, and get started at your own pace:
👉 Take a closer look here.
Because passion doesn’t build a fundraising plan. But clarity? That’ll take you the distance.
​
Cheers!

​PS - I hope you’ll continue the conversation by subscribing to Real Deal Fundraising. When you subscribe, you’ll get my e-newsletter, which includes the best articles on fundraising, productivity, and cool stuff every week. The whole thing is curated awesomeness as well as freebies like webinars, instructional videos, and whatever else I can put together to be helpful to you!

As a fundraiser, I have never felt like there was enough time to get everything done. I’d often start the day with the best of intentions, focused on raising money and cultivating donor relationships—the "main thing" in our work. But then, other tasks would creep in: emails, scheduling, reports, and urgent but less critical projects. Over time, I learned to shift my approach, adopting strategies that helped me stay focused on what truly matters while keeping everything else under control. Here’s what I discovered that transformed my productivity and mindset.

One of the biggest lessons from recent years is how much technology can simplify donor engagement while saving time. Here are my go-to virtual tools and strategies:

Zoom for Donor Meetings

• Use Zoom (or a similar videoconferencing software) for efficient 1:1 major donor conversations. A video call can create a personal connection without the time and cost of travel. Many donors appreciate this since it is saving the organization money.
• Coordinate small group meetings with donors and organizational leaders, like the president or executive director. These virtual roundtables help build relationships while respecting everyone's schedules.

​
Blast Emails That Feel Personal

• Take advantage of bulk email that looks more like a simple Outlook or Gmail email to set up discovery visits or follow-ups. Crafting messages that feel personalized (even in bulk) increases your response rates and saves you hours compared to calling donors individually.

I remember the feeling of confidence I had going into 2020. I had been in the fundraising field for over 15 years (full-time), and at the time, I thought I had most things figured out. I would have confidently made broad, sweeping predictions about the future. And, as we all know, I would have made a complete fool of myself. Because everything we thought we knew was turned upside down by the global pandemic just a few weeks later.
​
That humbling experience taught me a critical lesson: predicting the future isn’t about certainty; it’s about curiosity. It’s about studying trends, tracking the breadcrumbs, and embracing flexibility. As we look toward 2025, the nonprofit fundraising landscape continues to evolve, shaped by technology, shifting donor expectations, and global economic conditions. Here are a few trends to watch and how they might reshape the way we fundraise:

Gone are the days when a generic email blast could sustain your donor base. Modern donors expect nonprofits to know their preferences, interests, and giving history. This shift demands a deeper investment in donor data and segmentation strategies.
​
What this looks like in practice:

• Personalized video messages from organizational leaders thanking donors for specific gifts.
• Tailored campaigns that reflect the donor’s passions – think targeted appeals for programs they’ve supported in the past or issues that align with their values.
• Leveraging AI to analyze donor behavior and suggest optimal engagement strategies (more on AI below).

AI has moved beyond being a buzzword – it’s now a practical tool reshaping nonprofit fundraising. From automating administrative tasks to analyzing donor data, AI is helping fundraisers work smarter, not harder.

Emerging applications in fundraising:

• Predictive analytics: By analyzing historical data, AI can identify which donors are likely to upgrade their gifts, lapse, or respond to specific campaigns. This enables fundraisers to act strategically and proactively.
• Content generation: Tools like ChatGPT can help draft compelling appeals, social media posts, or event invitations, giving fundraisers a head start while maintaining their voice.
• AI-powered donor stewardship: AI tools can automate personalized thank-you emails, gift anniversary reminders, and touchpoints, ensuring donors feel appreciated without overwhelming staff time.

However, as AI becomes more prevalent, ethical considerations must remain at the forefront. Donor confidentiality is non-negotiable – organizations must carefully vet AI platforms to ensure donor data remains secure and private. Similarly, while AI can streamline processes, it’s no substitute for genuine, human connection. The most successful fundraisers will treat AI as a powerful enhancement to relationship-building, not a replacement for the trust and care that donors deserve.
​
By prioritizing ethics, privacy, and authenticity, nonprofits can leverage AI responsibly while maintaining the integrity of their donor relationships.

With limited staff and growing expectations, nonprofits are turning to automation to streamline repetitive tasks. Automation allows teams to focus on what truly matters: building relationships and driving impact.
​
What’s being automated:

• Email workflows for donor journeys, from onboarding new donors to lapsed donor reactivation.
• Social media posting schedules, freeing up time for engagement and content creation.
• Grant tracking and reporting processes, ensuring deadlines are met with minimal stress.

By automating these tasks, organizations can improve efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Donors today demand clarity on how their contributions are being used. Organizations that can clearly articulate their impact and demonstrate accountability will stand out in an increasingly competitive philanthropic landscape.
​
How to show transparency:

• Detailed impact reports shared via email or social media.
• Real-time project updates through live streams or donor-exclusive newsletters.
• Open discussions about challenges, successes, and lessons learned.

Transparency isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s becoming a baseline expectation for earning donor trust.

The way people consume information and interact with brands (including nonprofits) is constantly evolving. In 2025, expect to see growth in emerging channels like:

• Short-form video content offers bite-sized storytelling opportunities.
• Text-to-donate campaigns capitalize on the growing use of mobile devices for philanthropy.
• Virtual and hybrid events create global accessibility without sacrificing the intimacy of in-person connection.

Experimentation will be key here, and nonprofits that adopt a “test and learn” mindset will stay ahead of the curve.

The future of nonprofit fundraising is both exciting and daunting. The tools and strategies available today offer incredible potential to engage donors in meaningful ways – but only if we approach them thoughtfully. As we navigate these trends, let’s remember the lessons of the past: stay adaptable, keep learning, and never forget that at the heart of every fundraising effort is a desire to connect people with purpose.

What trends are you seeing in your work? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments!

​Cheers!

I’m a huge advocate for self-care, especially when you work-from-home. A Zen proverb says, “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you are very busy, then sit in meditation for an hour.” It’s true that you are more productive when you care for yourself well and do the things you know you should do to be your best self. I define discipline as keeping your promises to yourself. One of the benefits of working from your house is that if you need a meditation break or a yoga break or an exercise break, there’s no one to see you doing it. My office doubles as a home yoga studio and meditation space. Prioritize self-care and it will make you more productive.

PS - If you liked this post, you might also like these: 

• 23 Effective and Enjoyable Work-From-Home Hacks (And a few sanity savers if you are suddenly homeschooling kids)
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• Curated List of Resources on Coronavirus and Fundraising
• ​All Aboard! The 3 Essential Elements Your On-Boarding Process is Probably Missing
• Tips for Managing Your Remote Fundraising Team So You Come Out of COVID-19 Stronger

PPS - I hope you’ll continue the conversation by subscribing to Real Deal Fundraising. When you subscribe, you’ll get my FUNdraising Friday emails, which includes the best articles on fundraising, productivity and cool stuff every week. The whole thing is weekly curated awesomeness as well as freebies like webinars, instructional videos, and whatever else I can put together to be helpful to you! 

Surely you know, that non-profit and fundraising roles can be extremely stressful and that was true long before COVID-19. 

The Chronicle of Philanthropy ran an article in August of 2019 about new research showing that 30% of fundraisers plan to leave the field entirely in the next two years!

There are many reasons for this startling statistics, here are a couple: 

• 84 percent of fundraisers said they felt “tremendous pressure to succeed” in their role.
• 55 percent said they “often feel unappreciated” in their work.

I can guarantee that the "tremendous pressure to succeed" will only increase as we move through the coronavirus crisis and into the recovery phase. ​

Well, in order to be the absolutely All-Star Fundraiser I know you can be, you have to be your best self. You can’t succumb to nonprofit burnout. The industry needs folks like you to stay in fundraising. With 3 out of 10 fundraisers planning to depart the entire sector (before this crisis), nonprofits will need YOUR unique skills. So, I’m going to encourage you to take care of you.

Shouldn't we be lobbying for a better budget, higher salaries, more cooperative leadership, and more reasonable goals?

bsolutely! In order to do that, you have to be in top form. You will need even more resilience to raise amazing amounts of money while also changing an industry. I’m going to challenge you just to go just a bit further in taking excellent care of yourself. ​

Self-care has this modern connotation of it being something over-worked wine mommies do. They're looking for a "Calgon-Take-Me-Away" bubble bath. (I just totally dated myself with that commercial reference, didn't I?) 

While those sorts of indulgences and treats do have a place in a well-rounded self-care regimen, they are not the core of a self-care practice. 

It is not our grand gestures that keep us healthy in body, mind, and spirit, but the small things we do daily. You can quote me on that one. 

You need to identify small, sustaining daily habits that can be done on 80-90% of days to  help you be in the best form for yourself and others. 

To help you build that practice, I've created the Self Care Mind Map and the 90 Day Habit Tracker. (To download both files in PDF format, as well as view my entire Self-Care for Non-Profit Pros webinar, click here.) The process starts with the Self-Care Mind Map. 

Also, please remember to find beauty and practice gratitude. I have been snapping pictures of flowers every day, because I’m so genuinely grateful that I can get outside and walk. The weather has been beautiful here (whereas my brother and his family are stuck in late season snow in Colorado) and I have other friends who are stuck inside their homes for the foreseeable future. So, the best thing we can do for ourselves and others right now is to look inward and tend to ourselves like one would tend a garden, cultivating compassion for self and others. The result will be grace.

Grace for ourselves, for our families, our kids, our elders, the healthcare workers, the UPS drivers, our neighbors, everyone we interact with. And please tip your cashiers and delivery drivers very generously, as you are able. 

To get through all of this, we will need to take this extra time at home with our family to cultivate our best habits of self-care, which will fortify our body, mind, and spirit. These practices will give us the resilience we need to get through this crisis successfully and come out the other side of stronger in many ways.

If you already have a self-care practice, what does that look like for you? If you used the Self-Care Mind Map, what kinds of things did you come up with to try? Did any of them surprise you? In a couple of weeks, I want to know what benefits you've been able to garner from making some of those things habits? Please let me know in the comments below. 

And of course, if any of this stirred up questions, send me your question in the comments and I'll address it. 
​
Cheers,

Most fundraisers travel at least some of the time. Many of us are “road warriors” who travel at least 25%-75% of the time. After almost two years of 50% travel, I have found some iPhone apps to be nearly indispensable to me for smooth and safe travel. Here's 10 of my favorites in no particular order. All of these are free to download. 

Google Maps

I’m not really sure how I would have done this job before Google maps! I would have a stack of old MapQuest print-outs as tall as Moby Dick without it. I’m a bit of a control freak and I hate being late, so this app is great for me because I can plan what traffic is likely to be at the specific time of day I plan to be somewhere. I also like that I can select car, public transport or eve walking.

Furthermore, I use this at home when planning a trip to select restaurants convenient to the donor’s home or work, find centrally located hotels, and assess how far constituents live from a metro center I’m visiting to determine whether I could make it that far to see them. Bottom line, it is a crucial tool for my work as a fundraiser.

Clio

Clio is a landmark and history app. It senses where you are and tells you which historic landmarks and museums are near you. It’s fun when you have some extra time to fill between meetings or when you are traveling with kids. I’ve learned a great deal about cities around the country that I wouldn’t have learned without Clio.

Yelp

Feeling like Mexican? How about Lebanese? Just type it into Yelp and it will tell you where the closest restaurant of that type is to you, whether it is open now and how much it is likely to cost. The ratings and reviews are good too if you can’t decide.

Lyft

Lyft is my new favorite app. I’m from the South and wouldn’t know how to hail a cab if my life depended on it. So, when I needed a cab, I would walk to the nearest taxi stand. Now, wherever I am, Lyft gets me to my next destination. I’m so excited that they are expanding into the South now too.

Lyft usually arrives within 5 minute or less, shows me my driver’s picture and tells me the make, model, and license plate number of the vehicle. It texts me with a “bing!” to let me know when my driver arrives. I don’t have to pull out a credit card, as it is saved in the app. When the ride is over, I pull up the app to add a tip and the receipt arrives in my email inbox.

And if you are traveling with a group or with children or strollers/luggage, Lyft will let you select a larger vehicle so you are sure to have space for everyone and everything. 

Hilton

The Hilton app keeps all my reservations in one place. I can check in the day before I arrive, letting them know when I’ll be there. I usually can select my room in the app. It’s nice to have the addresses and phone numbers of the hotels at my fingertips.

Airline Specific Apps

United and Virgin have great airline apps. You can check in and even pay for your baggage via the app. Both of these have the ability to use a digital boarding pass on your phone. Delta and American also have apps but they aren’t quite at the level of the others I mentioned.

Facetime

Quick and easy and more reliable than Skype on the road. Essential for keeping in touch with my kids and my husband when I’m not home.

Hoopla Digital

I love audiobooks. Hoopla Digital is a service you sign up for using your local library card. With my library, I can “check-out’ 8 titles per month via the app. They have e-books and videos too, but I like to use mine for audiobooks because you get more hours of content per check-out. Being able to download a specific title is a nice feature because then you can continue to listen even in airplane mode. I listen to fiction, non-fiction, business and personal development titles.

Camera

Your iPhone camera is good for so much more than just pretty pictures. I like to take photos of my parking space numbers at the airport or my hotel room number, so I don’t forget. You can snap photos of posters for events that you want to remember later. I also use my camera to take pictures of flowers and other little things that my daughter would love and I send them to her (via my husband or my mom) to let her know that I’m thinking about her.

Notes

For the school that I work for, showing up at donor meetings with a notebook or executive pad would be wildly too formal. But often, a donor will get energize and begin throwing out names of people I should meet or follow up with. The Notes app takes the place of paper. I also use it to jot down any ideas I might have when pulling out my journal at that moment would be a pain. I’ll get a ton of ideas as I’m listening to audiobooks (via Hoopla) and I use notes to record those on the go.

Are there other apps that I didn't list? What are your favorites?

As always, comments and questions are welcome and encouraged!

Cheers,

Jessica

PS - If you liked this post, you might also like these: 

• Travel Preparation Hacks
• Major Gift Travel Planning
• Travel: One of the Reasons I Love Being a Fundraiser
• Staying Connected with Kids During Work Travel
• Travel Hacks for Major Gift Officers

PPS - If you found this article helpful, please comment and let me know. Also subscribe to Real Deal Fundraising so you don't miss a post! You'll get my  guide to Call Center Games for Free!​​

​One of the most important alliances at a nonprofit organization is between the fundraising staff and the marketing/communications staff. Making sure that the message about the funds needed and how those funds connect to mission is a crucial element of success.

Despite the importance of cooperation, it can be frustrating for fundraisers to work with public relations officers who don't have much experience with advancement work. The communication folks may find messaging about fundraising to be crass or pushy. Consequently, they might not want to give development the appropriate amount of space in the marketing channels.

Here a few tips I've used to improve the working relationship between development and marketing/communication colleagues:

EDUCATION

Educate them on what it takes to do your job! Let them know what your goals are and let them know how many messages and how many different channels you need to be participating in order to reach those goals. Show them statistics and analytics. Help make your goals into their goals.

HELP THEM HELP YOU

Make it as easy for them as possible to assist you. That means drafting a lot of your own messaging whenever possible, selecting your own images and putting all of that together into a comprehensive plan. Whether the plan is for social media or email or even your direct mail, if they assist you in managing any processes, be very clear about dates, times, and details.  Having your plan together will help get them on board.

SET THE TONE FOR TEAMWORK

Like any important colleagues, acknowledge what it is that bring that they bring to the table that is unique. Make them understand that you're on the same team. As fundraisers, we strive to be donor-centric and therefore we are advocates for our constituents. Assure them you don't want to over-message to your constituents either. You're both playing on the same team and the goal of that team is to bring in the resources necessary for the organization to complete its important mission.

BE FIRM ABOUT THE CALL TO ACTION

Being a team player doesn't mean being a pushover. You understand the best way to motivate your prospects to give. Don't let your calls to action get buried in more general promotional materials. Insist upon clarity in this portion of your communication and you will see success. Similarly, be firm about deadlines. More general marketing materials aren't as time-bound as annual giving. It's called annual for a reason. You only have one year to get it done.

FOCUS ON STORYTELLING

Play to the strengths of your communications colleagues by asking for their assistance with storytelling. Framing a moving and emotional narrative will only make your fundraising materials stronger. This is a skill that should come very naturally to your communications allies. Tap their creativity in this area and not only will your messages improve but your colleagues will feel like an integral part of the team.

I've worked at institutions where the dynamic between these two departments was less-that-optimal and it hampered fundraising productivity. I've also worked at institutions where there was a team atmosphere and mutual understand of goals. Everything is much easier when you focus on relationships first and foster learning and communication surrounding goals.

How does the development team work with the communication staff at your institution? Do the two groups function as partners or as a client-service relationship? Comments and questions are, as always, welcomed and encouraged!

Cheers, 

Jessica Cloud  

PS - If you liked this post, you might also like these: 

• People Give Because They Are Asked
• Prioritize Your Relationship with Advancement Services Staff
• Crisis Communication 

PPS - If you found this article helpful, please comment and let me know. Also subscribe to Real Deal Fundraising so you don't miss a post! You'll get my  guide to Call Center Games for Free!

I was a bullet journal skeptic. Lots of smart friends that I respected seemed to be jumping on this bandwagon but it seemed to me to be a way to waste a lot of time color coding with fancy pens. 

So, I asked on Facebook for someone to explain to me what all the hype was about. If you aren't familiar with the concept of a bullet journal, watch this video below. Then you can read about my conversion to bullet journal or bujo (as the bullet journal junkies call it) below the video.

After reading comments from my friends and watching this video and others, I decided to try using a bullet journal as a way to help me organize my work more effectively and to integrate my home life and work life. I've been doing it now for a little under a month and I'm a fan. ​Here are some reasons why I recommend you experiment with this method. 

• It's flexible enough you can use it for whatever you want. If you don't like to draw or doodle, don't. If you like a daily listing of to-dos, do that. I found after a week that I didn't. I function on a weekly basis. 
• One strength of the system is everything is in one place. I don't have to hunt around for the grocery list or for the monthly budget, it's all in my journal. I have my work meetings, homeschool lesson plans, my study plan for graduate school comprehensive exam, everything in one little place. 
• It's a low-key place to express myself. No one else looks at my journal and while I don't have too much time to doodle or do fancy lettering, occasionally I write a quote and draw a mandala or flowers or something. I'm a perfectionist and I like to draw but it has to be low stakes or I'm too tough on myself. 
• The thing I like MOST about the bullet journal are the weekly habit trackers I use. This is for items I wish I did every single day but often fall through the cracks. You can see one of my early habit trackers above. It helps me to remember those life balance things that get lost in the weekly shuffle and turns taking care of myself into something I get a sense of accomplishment from. 
• It helped me to loosen up, ironically. I modified the habit tracker to track which subjects we cover daily in our homeschool with my daughter. I'm a type-A, box-checker. In the past, I kept a multi-page detailed monthly lesson plan and I developed anxiety if we deviated from it. None of this was working well for my daughter. Now, the homeschool subject tracker allows her to pick which subjects she wants to do as the week progresses and I get to check off boxes. At the end of the week, I've found we have a good mix nearly all the time. 
• What I've done recently is refined my personal habits list down to five instead of ten, so I can focus on the most important. And I plan to do a similar habit tracker for work that includes things like "writing 2 thank you notes per day" and "contact two donors today". I'll keep you posted as to how that works out. 

Altogether, this little book with roses on the cover has been a positive addition to my life. It helps me get a holistic picture of all of my obligations and upcoming engagements. It also has helped me not to let my own personal goals get lost amidst the many work and family duties.

If you love your bullet journal, let me know why in the comments below. If you want to try it out, do so and report back here to tell us how it's working for you!