FELDMANN: Fundraising trends to watch for in 2011
Well, it’s that time of year again: time to gaze into the crystal ball and predict what trends will dominate fundraising in the year ahead.
Derrick Feldmann
Articles
FELDMANN: Copying others’ tactics won’t always pay off
It’s common in any business or organization that hears about an incredible success and tries to replicate it by following the same steps.
FELDMANN: Beware the dreaded donor engagement gap
Engagement gap strikes small organizations and big ones, struggling not-for-profits and successful ones, and it threatens
to cripple each of its sufferers.
FELDMANN: Put customer interest before revenue
Understanding the customer and his or her motivation is priceless, but it’s
old-school and just half of the solution. The other half, making it easy
for the customer to engage, is what sets growing organizations apart from stagnant ones.
FELDMANN: Don’t seek attention, generate it
In case after case, we see businesses and not-for-profit organizations launching initiatives, holding
events and undertaking other activities for the sole purpose of “awareness raising.” And
in case after case, we see that the public failed to respond the way the organization expected.
Not-for-profits: Treat donors as investors
Nonprofit organizations should treat their donors as shareholders because they invest in the organizations just as shareholders do in public companies.
Not-for-profits can grow in tough times
One of the most pressing questions not-for-profits should be asking is: “How will we respond to this economy?”