Fundraisers! Stand up. Stand out.
May 04, 2018
Congratulations to our graduates of Fund Development Institute!
We are ridiculously proud of these 21 amazing humans. They put up with us for FIVE full days of intensive learning. Because they were so truly awesome, Nancy and I said "yay" about 6000 times, clapped, jumped up and down, threw candy at them and threatened to do cartwheels.
We covered an insane amount of fundraising essentials, like:
- Making a sparkling, irresistible case
- Finding new donors
- How to get the visit - the email formula & cold-calling
- How to turn the conversation to $
- The keys to killer cultivation
- The Pre-Ask, the Ask & follow up
- How to handle "no"
- Stellar thanks
- Board members as fundraisers
- Writing for donors
- Career development
This week, our hard-working fundraisers inspired us to re-read Seth Godin's Linchpin. This book challenges and inspires you to lead from wherever you are in your organization - to become indispensable. A linchpin invents, leads, connects, makes things happen, creates order out of chaos, loves their work and pours their best selves into it.
Godin says, "All I wanted to do in this book was sell you on being the artist you already are. To make a difference. To stand for something. To get the respect and security you deserve. If I've succeeded, then you now know that you have a gift to give, something you can do to change the world (or your part of it) for the better. I hope you'll do that because we need you."
We're loving this quote from author Sarah Ban Breathnach:
"We're not meant to fit in. We're meant to stand out."
Fundraisers! We challenge you to stand up and stand out. You are the lifeblood of your nonprofit. We need you.
If you need fundraising inspiration - whether your a newbie or a veteran - check out Fundraisers' Monthly. You get access to our entire library (15 videos & worksheets, checklists, book reviews) and a new video each month.
You can also join us for Office Hours on Tuesday, May 8, from Noon CST to 12:30PM CST. This is your chance to get advice from Nancy, me and other fundraisers from across the country.
Get out there - raise more money and change the world.
We heart you!
Jenna & Nancy
