3 Ways Nonprofits Can Progress in 2013

Here are three ways you can have a more productive and fulfilling year.
1.    Say “thank you” more often
We humans love hearing the words “thank you.” Try it. You’ll often see people stand a little taller. Smiles creep across their faces. A sense of peace come over them.  Say thanks unconventionally like with a video message or a handwritten note.  People love to hear their donations are making a difference.

2.    Stay educated
Fundraising professionals should be up-to-date with the best research to help fund their causes. Sometimes we’re so busy with the process of raising funds, that we’re not taking time to keep up with the research and the literature. Stephen Covey calls that “sharpening the saw.”  If a board member asks you what you’re reading up on, as a professional, each fundraiser should have an answer.  What would yours be?
o    What blogs do you check in to?
o    What emails are you signed up for? eNewsletters? Movie Mondays?
o    What fundraising and marketing books have you assigned for yourself this year?
o    Are you reading the Chronicle of Philanthropy?
This isn’t meant to overwhelm you. This is for your benefit. That way, when you say, “We need to have a PS on this letter” and your board or ED says “no.” You can cite articles, eye-motion studies, and research that says, yes you need a PS. That the PS is the most important part of your letter. Being able to show them the statistics helps show them that you are the professional. And it will raise more money for your cause.

3.    Ask more
Asking is the reason people give. So ask more often. Ask more creatively. Ask different people.
Studies consistently show that if you mail the same letter to the same group of people multiple times, you will get more gifts than if you simply mail it once. Why not experiment with a letter a month? Just test it. Or commit to asking every donor, “Who else should we be involving?” Or having your board members host cocktail parties.
What if you committed to doing something you didn’t like at least once a week? Don’t like the phone? Try it each week. Don’t like handwriting appeals? Schedule some weekly time to do it.  Whatever you do, ask more.