Samantha Dodson-Skinner

Large new initiatives, new special events, huge federal applications... These are the types of things with which nonprofits always face. Yet how are the leaders and team members supposed to have the most accurate estimate of when the initiative will launch, or if the special event details will be done on time, or if the application will be submitted before the deadline? What often happens when teams under estimate resources is that they do heroic things to meet the deadline, or be ready for the event, and that is not a sustainable approach. Want to learn more? Purchase the Nonprofit's Guide to Estimating a Backlog for only $19.99, here https://buff.ly/3QcAyoi #Scrum #ScrumFramework #Agile #AgileInNonprofits #EstimatingABacklog #NonprofitGuide

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Why Donor Relationships Matter For nonprofit fundraisers, building strong relationships with donors is key to success. Donors who frequently discuss an organization, feel valued in those conversations, and have a history of consecutive giving are much more likely to make larger lifetime gifts. Donor engagement leads to increased giving over time, as shown in data from surveys of nearly 10,000 donors. Focusing on engagement is strategic, not wishy-washy. While engagement’s effects can be hard to measure directly, the data shows a clear pattern: more engagement leads to bigger gifts. For donors who gave under $1,000, the median gift over 11 years was $2. For donors who gave over $50,000, the median number of years of consecutive giving was 11. The more people positively discuss an organization, the more good things will come its way. To build engagement, demonstrate credibility, reliability, and intimacy with donors, as defined by McKinsey. Report back on what you learn from them and how you use their input. For example, if you survey donors, share the results and how you plan to act on them. Send updates on the impact of fundraising campaigns donors contributed to. These types of accountability and follow-through establish trust. While technology and social media play a role, meaningful personal outreach is key. For example, one college sends the widows of alumni a bookplate dedication for the library, noting it memorializes a shared value or interest of her late husband. This thoughtful gesture, expecting nothing in return, resonates profoundly. To make the case for engagement internally, focus on its strategic benefits, not just fundraising. Engaged donors become advocates, helping to build enrollment, forge community partnerships, and more. An “engagement first” mindset takes work, but pays long-term dividends. Building trust and loyalty with donors will be increasingly critical as societal expectations of nonprofits continue to grow. Focus on relationships, and the dollars will follow. Fundraisers, invest in engagement now. Your donor pyramid is changing, and those organizations that meet donors where they are with a value-first approach will thrive. Why? Because donor relationships matter.

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Whether you are mid-way through the year or just starting FY2025, July is a good time to review or create your grants calendar and review internal processes that include the fundraising, program, and finance teams. Is your calendar rooted in research and relationships? Are you responding to the organization's immediate needs and preparing for its growth? After funds arrive, is the responsibility of their management shared by the funded project or program lead, the finance department, and the grants team? Lois Consulting can guide you through this process so you can work on creating better outcomes that improve the quality of life for those you serve. Send us an email at [email protected] and let's get planning. #grantwriting #grantplanning

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Ready to secure funding for your next big nonprofit project? 🌟 . Our grant writing services go beyond words – we dive deep into research and analysis to strengthen your proposal! . Our team conducts thorough research, gathering vital data, statistics, and supporting evidence to make your proposal stand out. We analyze funding requirements and align your project or organization perfectly with the grantor's priorities. . Don't leave your grant application to chance – trust our experts to craft a winning proposal. Reach out today to learn more! . #GrantWriting #ResearchAndAnalysis #FundingSuccess #grants #funding #funddevelopment #Nonprofitconsultant #Dallas

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Pushing donors and staff too hard, too fast can lead to burnout and strained relationships. The last thing you want to do is damage your organization's culture (that you have probably worked really hard to improve!) during a time when you need everyone on the same page. This type of damage can have lasting negative impacts that far outweigh short-term gains. 👎 Read more about this in our latest blog post, linked in the comments. ✨ #nonprofits #nonprofitleaders #nonprofitleadership #leadership #fundraising #capitalcampaign

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