Why is everyone obsessed with an elevator pitch? 

I was in a discussion with a client’s vendor and EVERYTHING fundraising related kept coming back to questions about the elevator pitch.

This year I did something I hadn't done for quite a few years. I ‘said yes’ to working with two clients with annual budgets just under $1M. 

You know why? 

In both cases, these two leaders were phenomenal. I could just tell they were ready to commit to doing the work when they reached out.

What’s the cost of not creating an annual budget that reflects what you REALLY need?

If your fundraising team’s annual plan mentions “donor fatigue” as a potential obstacle for them not reaching or exceeding their annual goals . . .

You have a skillset issue. Not a donor issue.

I was on a webinar where we discussed shifting project-based funding from institutions into flexible general-operating support. I knew I had a great case study to share.

Here’s what I guided my client through in the 12-months we worked together . . .

For some of you, it’s budgeting season.

If you want to grow tremendously over the next few years, make sure you’re not letting the tone and invisible scripts of the nonprofit sector underestimate what you’re capable of . . .

Too often nonprofits can’t see the money sitting right there in front of them because they’re looking through a lens of SCARCITY.

Scarcity is so powerful it will . . .

I coached a senior level Development Director who was that classic, “I shake hands and kiss babies” guy. 

Moving from event to event to event all year long, his team was exhausted with the transactional tactics and the organization struggled to diversify and grow charitable revenue.

If your FY ends on June 30th…are you:

A.) Pushing uphill in an effort to land every gift by 6/30? 

Or….are you:

B.) Fully funded and confidently pivoting donor conversations until after 7/1?

Too many people reach out and ask…how can I get more money from individual major donors?

Let’s flip that and ask the opposite question…

Why do most organizations stay small and never reach financial sustainability?

You don’t need to buy a wealth screening software for your staff to be able to FIND major donors.

But you DO need to start doing the things that ATTRACT major donors to self-identify themselves.

My unpopular opinion: You don’t need a long narrative-based Fundraising Plan to raise money.

My clients? They use a Financing Plan.