Myth 1: Smaller Nonprofits Can't Compete with Larger Ones

Don’t get us wrong, having more resources definitely helps. The size of an organization though doesn't necessarily determine fundraising success. Smaller nonprofits often have the advantage of closer community ties and the ability to create more personalized donor relationships. With focused and directed Major Gifts ($50,000+) strategies and the right leverage, small organizations can absolutely clean up in the fundraising space just as much as large organizations. From our experience, well-trained nonprofit personnel from small organizations can almost always compete effectively against larger, perhaps less nimble, entities.

1. Start with Why Your Organization Exists

Your Case for Support should begin with a clear and compelling explanation of why your organization was founded and continues to operate. This is probably the most missed component that novice fundraisers will somewhat overlook and is an easy thing to fix. What specific gaps or needs does it address? What are the current circumstances of the constituency that you serve and why is this unacceptable? This foundational narrative sets the stage, providing donors with the deeper understanding and emotional gut-punch of the status quo. You are setting up your organization’s purpose and unique value in addressing very specific issues or challenges.

1. Implement Advanced Data Analytics (AI or Otherwise)

Utilizing advanced data analytics can transform your fundraising strategy. By analyzing donor data, you can gain insights into donor behaviors, preferences, and giving patterns. This information allows you to create more targeted appeals that are more likely to resonate with your audience(s). This can be as simple as dropping analytics into ChatGPT to analyze patterns and get high level feedback.

1. Engage Volunteers in Fundraising

Utilizing volunteers can be a challenge to manage, but can transformationally expand your reach and resources. Volunteers can help you get connected with a broader network, set meetings for asks, and serve as passionate advocates for your cause. By training volunteers in fundraising techniques and empowering them to share their enthusiasm for your mission, you create a larger, committed group of supporters who are invested in your organization's success. It doesn’t hurt having some more people in your corner as well.

2. Leverage Matching Gifts

Many companies and individuals will offer matching gift opportunities if approached the right way, doubling or even tripling someone’s donation. Consider approaching a donor or a business to create a matching gift opportunity. This will create a finite timeline bolstering your year end efforts even more. Once you have someone who has agreed to a matching gift, then it’s time to let as many people know about it as possible.

A nonprofit feasibility study is an essential process that evaluates the potential success of a fundraising campaign before it begins. It’s a thorough assessment that explores the willingness of your potential donors to support the campaign, the capacity of your organization to undertake the initiative, and the overall community’s reception to your fundraising goals.

Age and generational differences can play a significant role in donor behavior. Millennials statistically give very differently than Baby Boomers. Which type of causes they support, communication styles, and recognition preferences do not usually transcend across generations.

1. Professional Development and Career Advancement:

For many in the fundraising field, formal training opportunities are rare. Investing in professional development can fill this gap, offering staff the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in a high-pressure profession and advance their careers within the nonprofit sector.

2. Feedback Indicates Confusion or Indifference:

Pay close attention to the feedback you receive from your audience. Are donors expressing confusion about what your organization does or the impact of their donation? Or perhaps worse, are they indifferent? Feedback, whether direct comments or gleaned through surveys, can provide critical insights into how your message is perceived…

Knowing the DLV helps nonprofits allocate their resources more effectively. By understanding which donor segments offer higher lifetime value, organizations can tailor their engagement and stewardship strategies to maximize long-term returns.

One of the most significant problems with lacking a donor stewardship plan is the inefficiency and inconsistency it introduces to the donor acknowledgment process. Without predefined stewardship actions for different donation levels (e.g., $250, $1,000, $10,000, $50,000), staff may find themselves constantly trying to determine the appropriate way to recognize and engage each donor.

Rather than viewing social media as the end-all-be-all of fundraising, it's more productive to see it as one piece of a larger puzzle. It's a tool for setting the stage—building awareness, nurturing relationships, and creating a supportive community—that can then be leveraged through other fundraising efforts like major gifts…

At its core, planned giving is akin to the strategic, forward-thinking nature of a 401(k). While the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit might rely on the influx of major gifts, grants, and other forms of immediate funding, planned giving represents the long-term investment in your organization's future. It's about setting the groundwork today for a prosperous tomorrow.

At its core, a nonprofit board's commitment to giving is a testament to their faith in the organization's mission and operational integrity. This isn't merely about the amount each member contributes; it's the act of giving itself that matters. A board that achieves 100% participation in giving sends a clear, unanimous message of support and confidence in the organization's direction and leadership.

The Misconception of Event Fundraising:

Many nonprofits fall into the trap of seeing the event as the endpoint of their fundraising efforts. They pour resources, time, and energy into creating a spectacular night, hoping the event will generate enough revenue to justify the investment.

Aim High, but Be Informed:

When in doubt, it's better to ask for more rather than less. This might seem counterintuitive, but experience shows you're unlikely to offend someone by asking for too much. If anything, a higher request can flatter the donor, implying you see them as someone of significant means and as someone capable of substantial impact. However, this doesn't mean you should pick a number out of thin air. The amount you ask for should be informed by careful research and consideration.

6. Give Them Assignments

The instinct with working with volunteer fundraisers can sometimes be,”Well, I don’t want to overload them by giving them stuff to do, because then they might leave…”. In reality though, if they have agreed to help then giving regular assignments usually helps with volunteer retention rather than hurts it. People want to feel like they are contributing. The balance with this is in not giving them too much at all once. Typically best practice would be small assignment in a short timeframe, rather than longer assignment in a longer timeframe.

Public recognition is two-fold: both recognizing and thanking the donor, as well as drawing attention to the project. While we will always respect donors wishes who wish to be kept confidential, we will usually (not always) try to push back precisely one time.

6. Be Patient:

Decisions about $50,000+ gifts are not usually made overnight. If someone has accumulated that level of wealth where they can give that substantial of a contribution, they likely did not get to that point by making snap financial decisions. That is why it’s important to work on the donor’s timeline, not yours. Cultivating and soliciting major gifts takes time and patience. Celebrate small victories along the way and keep your team motivated. While it might feel like slow going sometimes, even one major gift from a single donor can cover months of work on smaller gifts.

3. Fostering Relationships with Major Donors: Large nonprofits often have dedicated teams for major donor cultivation. Smaller nonprofits typically have less time and bandwidth to devote to fundraising, so the time that they do dedicate needs to be focused on the absolute highest ROI activities.