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Everything I learned about saying “thank you” I learned from: According to Burk’s research from Donor-Centered Fundraising, more than 80% of thank you letters start with “Thank you for your generous gift of…” or “On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your generous gift of…” Y A W …
A grant management system is no place for your garbage. And yet, many grantmakers leave duplicate records, incomplete contacts, and incorrectly formatted information littered throughout their GMS, waiting to be scooped up in reports. Garbage in. Garbage out. Without good data management examples and expectations, your team may not be aware they are making these…
At the most basic level, the purpose of nonprofit marketing is to spread awareness of your mission and work. However, your public-facing communications should also make your organization recognizable in the community. That way, your marketing will lay a foundation for building trust with audience members, and this confidence will make them more likely to…
Imagine you’re a busy donor checking your email on the way to lunch. You’ve just gotten out of a difficult meeting at work, and your personal inbox is crowded with promotional messages from brands you don’t remember signing up to receive emails from. You see a message from your favorite nonprofit and glance at the…
Most nonprofits and educational institutions use a multichannel marketing strategy to engage supporters. After all, some donors may have specific channels they prefer, while others may want to interact with you in as many ways as possible. Email, social media, and direct mail are all nonprofit staples—but don’t stop there. Text messages present an impactful…
I’m going to guess “yes.” I’m sure some will hate me for saying this, but after 30+ years in the nonprofit trenches and another 10+ as a coach and consultant, I’m still amazed at how small many of us think. In 2008 during the big recession, and 2020 during the pandemic,…
Colleges and universities are facing shifting demographics in student enrollments, including an increasing number of first-time and returning adult learners. As institutions determine ways to best support their students, it is critically important to identify student needs and relevant services based on specific student populations. Simply put, a “one size fits all” approach will not…
Knowing which enrollment metrics to monitor can give you a competitive edge. It’s almost impossible not to know about the “enrollment cliff” (although there may be a second cliff after the one we’re already expecting). Fewer high school graduates with increased diversity coupled with a rising mistrust of higher education and the worth of higher…
How do students and families perceive the admissions process? This is the second in a series comparing student perceptions with the perceptions of university families. The first article focused on satisfaction with financial aid and tuition value. This one takes a closer look at the admissions experience. These results are based on nearly 140,000 students…
You’re in the final stretch of the fiscal year, and the pressure is on! How will you and your team make it through till June 30th? Here are our nine tips to help your team not only survive but come out with a win. 1. Keep Your Energy Up! Let’s be honest: year-end fundraising is…