Financing & Loans

I received over 100 email messages from nonprofits in the last week of 2010. There’s a good reason for that: it’s the best week of the year for online fundraising. I know, I sound like those billboards that say “You missed Ma’s Diner! Turn Back at Next Exit!” You can’t go back to December, but …

Every year, government agencies around the country provide over $200 billion in grants … for specific services to local communities. Today, there are approximately 2,000 federal grant programs and over 40,000 state grant programs. But before you get all excited about all that government money, you must really understand what government grants are and who …

Naming Opportunities (This post is Part 2 of a 2 Part Response to a Submitted Question) The other first step is to make a list of potential “purchasers” of those naming opportunities. These must be people with the (significant) resources to be able to afford the “purchase” – people to whom you have or someone …

Naming Opportunities (This post is Part 1 of a 2-Part Response to a Submitted Question) When I think of playground fundraising, I picture swings, a set of see-saws, a jungle gym, and various other pieces of equipment; and, I see multiple opportunities to raise money. There are many ways to raise money, but I can …

A Note From a Reader: “I will begin my new position as an ED in a non-profit next month and I would like to meet our sponsors and donors. We do not begin our campaign drive for another few months. What is the best approach to introduce myself to donors? Would it be appropriate to …

The web may be the most powerful broadcast tool of all time, but too many nonprofit organizations miss the even more important power of the web – a way to listen to their donors! Why is listening so important? • People like to be listened to…. So few people   really listen these days – most …

Endowment Campaigns are often thought of as another type of Capital Campaign, but there are two major (and some minor) differences between these types of fundraising efforts. •   A capital campaign primarily raises funding for tangibles – bricks-and-mortar and equipment, and sometimes programs. An endowment is a “savings account” from which an organization typically uses only …