Nonprofits often want a bigger slice of the fundraising pie. But many are uncertain about which fundraising strategies to use and how to properly balance them. And some are not preparing for both their short-term and long-term needs.

I sing the praises of the small donor. Those generous folks that give when they can to a mailing, or online, or even to your very specific appeal on social media. Why? Because they’re the ones doing the heavy lifting in nonprofitland.

We recently met a pair of nonprofit leaders who are losing sleep over their fundraising programs. All they want to do is run away from the nightmare of not making payroll or not keeping the lights on. But without understanding who really gives and how to balance growth with stability, they risk coming face-to-face with the monster they fear the most.

Nonprofits are concerned that a decision by Congress to increase the standard federal tax deduction will cost them donors. We sat down with Abeja Solutions founder Terri Shoemaker to find out how savvy nonprofits can turn this new challenge into an opportunity.

We all know millennials are the largest generation in the workforce and that they want nonprofits to communicate with them in many different ways. But don’t get distracted by that distant, moving target and miss the big one right in front of you.

Research suggests that many fundraisers today rely on email to get to their fundraising goals. But ignoring actual donor behavior and response rates is dangerous. It’s like using the cheap sunscreen on a 110-degree day.

All too often, the year starts and fundraising planning gives way to crisis control. To help you get out of emergency mode, I’m sharing this nonprofit fundraising plan template – all ready for you to customize. If you’ve ever wondered how to write a successful fundraising strategy, this is a great start.

Some 52 percent of all websites use Google Analytics. But few of the nonprofits I’ve worked for have this free tool installed. And even fewer use the data to guide decision making. 

This condition could eventually be fatal. Here’s why.

Truly successful fundraising, the kind that builds a relationship and earns repeat donations, runs on data. A good database can tell you exactly who to mail, what to mail them and when they’re most likely to give a donation. It’s time to leave Access and Excel behind—without breaking the bank or your back. 

I’ve based all of my successful fundraising strategy around emotion backed up by logic, not the other way around. But now I know there are specific times when the exact opposite is true. Just don’t forget to back up your ask with a great impact story and fantastic stewardship.

New fundraisers are often surprised at how mentally challenging the job can be. To avoid burnout, it’s up to you to convince the boss that you need some outside muscle. Here’s how to go about that and not get burned.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in 20 years of nonprofit fundraising it’s this: if you want to be successful at the job, you have to own it. No one is going to give you millions of dollars unless you’re fully committed. Here are 9 signs you might just be a fundraiser after all.