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(via Don't let the AI robots steal your humanity)

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Don't let the AI robots steal your humanity

AI is the new kid on the block. You know, the one with rich parents. Who has the best toys. You were eager to play. But you had to wait for an invitation, of course. Then the big day arrived! And you realized the kid didn’t have anything interesting to say. Just sort of repeated back what you’d just said. Weird. And soon, kind of boring. AI is iterative, not creative. That’s another way…

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(via Why you should write a thank you from the heart)

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Why you should write a thank you from the heart

Answer honestly: how much attention do you pay to the thank you letters or emails you receive after giving? Do you quickly review it to be sure it’s a thank you letter, then file it for your taxes? And does that make the whole experience feel a bit… impersonal? I’m asking not because I think thank you letters don’t matter. Quite the opposite. But I worry. Are we teaching our donors that their…

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(via Please don't go! 5 ways to win donor hearts again.)

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Finding the stories you need

Giving is an emotional act. And stories are the way we connect to people’s feelings. You understand that. You know that we humans are wired for story. And that a story will plant an idea in someone’s head much better and faster than any list of facts. Feelings unlock donors’ desire to help. That’s why you need good stories, well told. Finding the stories to bring your donors closer to your…

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How To Communicate With Donors About Matching Gifts

Every fundraising professional wants to maximize support for their organization’s cause. Whether their organization’s vision is to feed those in need, protect the environment, or support the arts, fundraisers are want to make a difference. Matching gifts offer a unique opportunity to take donors’ impact further and create a lasting impact. Through matching gift programs, companies match…

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(via Unlocking Support: The Art of Clear Communication in Nonprofits)

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Unlocking Support: The Art of Clear Communication in Nonprofits

Clear communication might be your best tool for raising money. Recently, Ephraim Gopin shared a funny/not-so-funny post from McSweeney’s. It was titled: We dare you to figure out what our nonprofit does. And it nails it. Do you want to make me really cranky? Use language like what they mock here. Unclear. Full of buzzwords. Slick but meaningless stuff. It might sound good in an imaginary ad…

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(via Can we talk about donor care?)

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Can we talk about donor care?

You know taking care of your donors is one of the most important things you can do I’ve recently written about thank you letters and donor retention. Yes, they’re very much connected. But it’s now that time of year… tax season. And your donors are likely going through the drudgery of pulling together their records, including their donations. Have you made that work easier? Step one is a…

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(via Why your brain loves stories)

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Want better fundraising results? Rethink your team

Fundraising results depend on the whole organization You might know that I spent a good number of years working for regional theaters. It’s where my nonprofit career began. And theater is still close to my heart. But over the years – whether in my first theater, where I managed the box office, or in subsequent jobs as a fundraiser – I noticed a particular friction. And fundraising was usually…

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(via You CAN write a great thank you)

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You CAN write a great thank you

Does writing a thank you letter make you feel sort of squeamish? Do you put it off, because… all those feelings? Or maybe just because you don’t know where to start? I got you. Read on… Your opening paragraph As you would with any letter, keep the first paragraph short. And make it all about the person you’re writing to. Because the most important thing is not that you received a gift. It’s…

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Do you want to keep last year’s donors this year?

How to keep those donors Oh, hello 2024. Yes, your year-end fundraising efforts are over. Take a deep breath. Relax. OK. Enough of that. Time for 2024 fundraising! And here’s what I want you to think most about: retention. I hope you welcomed new donors last year. And maybe even welcomed back some others. But the time to build a successful year is now. And retaining donors is the key.…

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(via Improve your fundraising letters fast)