Posts by Andrea Kihlstedt
Comprehensive Campaigns: Including Everything Toward Your Campaign Goal
What should count toward a campaign goal? In addition to capital gifts, should you count gifts made to your annual fundraising program? How about gala revenue? And planned gifts? Or should you only count gifts made...
Refresh Your BHAG this New Year to Increase Your Organization’s Capacity
Don’t have a BHAG? (Pronounced Bee-Hag.) Not sure what a BHAG is? BHAG is an acronym developed by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. It stands for Big,...
How to Use a Capital Campaign Planning Committee to Great Effect
One tongue-in-cheek definition of capital campaigns: Capital Campaign -- an unending string of committee meetings that result in raising a lot of money that has a huge impact. I rather like that definition. It not only...
How to Use Ad Hoc Capital Campaign Committees to Engage Key Donors
If I told you that you’d have to have at least 7 committees for your capital campaign, it might send you into a tailspin. As a seasoned development professional, you know the challenges of volunteer committees. Here’s...
Strengthen Campaign Leadership and Planning Through the Asking Styles Lens
This is a guest post written by Brian Saber, author of the recently released book, Boards and Asking Styles: A Roadmap to Success. Learn more about Brian at the end of the post. Do you love capital campaigns? Here’s a...
Top 3 Must-Haves for Your Capital Campaign’s Web Page
The following is a guest post written by Ira Horowitz, Co-founder of Cornershop Creative. Learn more about Ira at the end of the post. After a whirlwind of a year for the nonprofit sector, organizations of all shapes...
How to Keep the Focus on Your Top Donors (Where It Should Be)
It’s easier to raise money from people who have money. Did you roll your eyes when you read that? Does it make you think, “DUH! Of course it’s easier to raise money from people who have money.” Now, think about how...
Converse with Your Donors through the Amazing Power of Improvisation
Have you ever taken an improv class? I know it’s an unlikely suggestion, but if you’re in the donor relations part of fundraising, you’d learn a ton of transferable skills. Because the best conversation is always...
5 Pro Tips for Soliciting Campaign Gifts Using Zoom
Covid-19 isn’t likely to go away any time soon. Not this month or next month, or even into the first quarter of next year. And, in this Covid world, chances are very good that your most important donors aren’t going to...
Want a Complete Roadmap for Your Capital Campaign?
The Capital Campaign Toolkit is a virtual support system for nonprofit leaders to run successful campaigns. You get all the tools, templates, and guidance you need — without breaking the bank.
