The same applies to nonprofit fundraising. It’s easy to feel like we’re competing with other organizations for a fixed number of donors. If we focus solely on individuals and foundations with known wealth, we risk overlooking potential supporters who may be deeply passionate about our mission. Some donors give broadly across many causes, while others commit themselves to a single organization they truly believe in. Either way, the potential donor pool is vast.

Just a few days ago, I heard the statement I have heard over and over since I began working as a fundraiser. “That is such a hard job. No one wants to ask for money.”

That is why, soon into my tenure in development, I started introducing myself like this:

“My name is Angel Brunelle, and I connect good people with good work.”

This simple reframe can shift the mindset entirely. I am not ‘asking people for money’, I am introducing them to an organization that just may be fulfilling a wish they have for their community or meeting a need they are aware exists but aren’t sure how to help.

Have you ever walked into the office, sat down at your desk, looked at your relatively and surprisingly open schedule and thought “I am going to spend the day having meaningful interactions with supporters today.” 

Then, maybe you take a look at your to-do list, read through your emails and chat with a colleague. And suddenly, it is the end of the day and you never got around to completing those meaningful interactions with your supporters. 

And it happens time and again, until you get to the end of the week or quarter or year and realize that the bulk of your time was spent reacting to incoming requests, and not connecting with your supporters. 

Anyone? No, just me?

Congratulations on wrapping up another year-end campaign! Whether you met your financial goals or not, your campaign results hold a treasure trove of insights. Fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint, and each step offers lessons that can refine your future strategies.

In this post, we'll explore how to dig deeper into your year-end appeal data. We'll focus on the non-financial victories and learn how to leverage these insights to refine your fundraising strategies. From identifying new donors to recognizing re-engaged supporters, every piece of information tells a story that can help you build stronger relationships and more effective campaigns.

A gift acknowledgment is a piece of correspondence that recognizes that a gift was received, and has information (such as the date the gift was received, the organization’s EIN, and the amount received) that the donor can use for tax purposes. It is a box to be checked.

Don’t get me wrong, acknowledgments are important. Timeliness of sending acknowledgements is key as well - donors who receive an acknowledgement that is sent within 48 hours of the organization receiving the gift are 4 times more likely to give again (according to Candid/GuideStar). Having a good system in place for sending acknowledgements is key to retaining donors. I know that when I send a donation to an organization, I am reassured to know that it was seen by a human and put to good use.