fundraising | Clay Myers-Bowman

Hosted: Our Documentary

August 5, 2015

(Note: this is not meant to criticize either my fundraising consulting colleagues who provide wonderful support and advice to their clients, the fundraisers I know who are trying hard to raise more money, or the nonprofits who are trying to advance their missions. This is…

Get off your butt and visit your donors!

June 6, 2014

As a fundraising volunteer, you have to be familiar with the organization or project you represent and be able to explain the mission, organizational goals and objectives, benefits of giving, ways to give, and anything else that a prospect or donor might ask about. Just as your…

For Fundraising Volunteers: Time to Study

April 16, 2014

Last fall I was invited to submit an article for an e-book by the fundraising software giant Blackbaud. Never one to pass up an opportunity, I obliged and was surprised when they chose what I wrote for their book. It’s now available free (if you give…

How to Get Noticed by Foundations…

April 8, 2014

Comments

Update #3 (07/03/2013: The deadline for submitting a Letter of Interest has passed and I’ve started reviewing. I expect to get through this stage by the end of the week and make a decision that I’ll announce next week. Thanks to everyone who took the…

Update #3: Review Underway

May 29, 2013

Comment

There are a myriad of things necessary to create an environment that will allow your nonprofit to significantly advance its mission. In fact, it’s extremely common for executive directors and board members to get overwhelmed with the amount of work it takes to make progress.…

It’s time to find out why you aren’t raising more money.

May 6, 2013

Comments

One of the things I know my clients get tired of hearing is this: Be real. I’m always reminding fundraisers (professional and volunteer) that they can be incredibly confident, smooth and polished, but if they’re not real and authentic in their passion for the cause,…

Let’s be real about this.

April 2, 2013

A must-see video.

A recent TED talk from Dan Pallotta. It’s the most meaningful and challenging I’ve seen yet this year. If you’re serious about advancing your mission and truly meeting the needs of those you serve, you’ll watch this, share it with your board members and volunteers, and start trying to figure out how we can change the underlying challenges Dan lays out.

April 1, 2013

One of the most frequent inquiries I get is from people wanting to know how to raise money. They’ve got this project that helps so-and-so with such-and-such. Or so-and-so needs help with this-and-that. And the projects run the gamut: from established nonprofits and associations to…

You have everything you need to start raising money. Today.

February 6, 2013

Comment

Why aren’t you building relationships with people who can significantly advance your mission? One of the areas of concern I almost always encounter when I conduct a fundraising audit is a lack of sustained major gift cultivation and invitation. While major gift planning is often…

Don’t you want to advance your mission?

December 5, 2012

Comments

I’ve written a lot recently about the board of directors taking responsibility for their role in fundraising. It IS there job, after all. But of course, as people have pointed out, the board can’t do it on their own. Well, they can, but having a…

The Ultimate Fundraising Dream Team

November 30, 2012

There’s something wrong in the nonprofit sector. Really wrong. It’s a problem that can seem unsolvable because it’s so pervasive. Almost every executive director, CEO, development director, and consultant I talk to bemoans this problem. What is it? It’s this: Your board of directors has…

Most Small Nonprofits are Screwed

November 28, 2012

Comments

Clay Myers-Bowman

Executive Leader, Fundraising Consultant, Photographer

Posts tagged ‘fundraising’

Hosted: Our Documentary

Get off your butt and visit your donors!

For Fundraising Volunteers: Time to Study

It’s time to find out why you aren’t raising more money.

Let’s be real about this.

You have everything you need to start raising money. Today.

Don’t you want to advance your mission?

The Ultimate Fundraising Dream Team

Most Small Nonprofits are Screwed