The hottest fundraising topics of 2022 – as voted by you!
As I’m wrapping up for the year, I wanted to share the top five articles that got your attention in 2022.
But first, I wanted to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to you for taking the time to read and share my posts.
I’ve had a blast writing all of them - and if they’ve made your life a little better, and your fundraising more successful, I consider my mission accomplished! ✅
So, without further ado, here are the top five hottest Blue Sky Philanthropy reads of 2022:
4 fundraising KPIs you didn’t know you should be measuring
We tend to be goal-oriented folks, us fundraisers.
But too often, our focus (and let’s face it, the focus of our boards and bosses) is exclusively on the bottom line – hitting our annual target for dollars raised.
That kind of short-term thinking can ruin our chances of future success.
How can our organizations thrive and grow if we’re single-mindedly pursuing one goal – sometimes even burning through our donor relationships to achieve it?
Here are four key performance indicators (KPIs) we need to start measuring to ensure the long-term health of our organizations – and raise more money while we’re doing it!
Why introverts make the BEST major gift fundraisers
This year, I shared that I’m a Reluctant Introvert.
There are so many misconceptions about introverts - and my perception of myself is simply not aligned with some of the commonly accepted traits:
We, like the eponymous best selling book on the topic, are always quiet. We’re shy and withdrawn. We hate networking.
But none of the above is accurate, or true across the board for all introverts.
In fact, while it sounds counter-intuitive, our strengths actually make us some of the top fundraisers - especially when it comes to working with big donors. Here’s why introverts excel at major gifts.
3 danger zones for introverted fundraisers
While introvert strengths lend themselves perfectly to major gift fundraising, we also need to be aware of how to effectively manage our energy, and protect ourselves from burnout.
Here’s three of the top danger zones to watch out for as an introverted fundraiser - and my road tested tricks to help you manage them.
3 secrets to successful major donor meetings
Have you ever left a donor meeting thinking, “what just happened?”
You had a nice lunch, caught up on what the kids and grandkids were up to, heard about their latest travel adventures, and gave them a little update on the program they support.
And the next thing you know, you’re picking up the tab and saying your goodbyes.
There’s nothing wrong with small talk, or program updates – done well, those can both be important elements in a donor meeting.
But getting more strategic about how you use your time in donor meetings can help take your relationships – and your major gift program – to the next level.
Here are three secrets that will help make your next major donor meeting a huge success.
4 powerful questions to ask major donors
One of the top questions I hear from clients who are new to major gifts is this:
“What, specifically, do I talk about in a major donor meeting?”
First and foremost, you’re aiming to have a meaningful conversation – in fact, you’re doing way more listening than talking, because you’re asking great questions to help uncover the values, interests, hopes and fears that motivate the donor’s philanthropy.
That’s all from me! I’m signing off for 2022 – I’ll be taking some time to unplug and spend time with my family over the holidays, and I’ll be back in action in January.
Whatever you are doing as your year winds down, I wish you all the best. You’ve worked so hard this year raising money for your great cause, and I hope you too will get some time to rest and recharge, so you’re back better than ever in 2023!
We’ll be back in 2023 with some exciting things along with weekly fundraising tips and resources - consider signing up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss anything!
