Marc’s Musings

My Fundraising Blog

• Help getting into Starbucks
  Could I ask you a big Friday favor? Would you help me get Ask Without Fear! into Starbucks stores? My local baristas strongly encouraged me to try to get Ask Without Fear! into Starbucks in conjunction with the National Philanthropy days in November. The "grassroots" appeal of the book is perfect for the typical Starbucks customer. Naturally, [...]
• Feeling guilty about not raising enough money?
  I’m really excited to be offering a full day of “Ask Without Fear!” training here in Waterville, ME on Saturday, September 13. This training will be ideal for board members and volunteers who are feeling guilty that they’re not doing as much fundraising as they think is expected of them. They’ll learn that fundraising really [...]
• Fundraising Secret #24: Take Time for Yourself Daily
  Fundraising can be a grueling occupation. Strategizing, planning, writing, dreaming, asking. Facing rejection day after day. Having people raise the goal year after year. As much as I love it, fundraising can wear you down. That’s why Fundraising Secret #24 is: Take time for yourself. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey calls it “sharpening [...]
• Book signing at Borders in Bangor!
  Today was my first Borders book signing. Honestly, I don’t “get” the idea behind a booksigning. I’m still not, but I did sell 18 copies Ask Without Fear!, despite the amazingly dry, sunny weather outside. I guess that just may be the point, eh? Selling books? Interestingly, my customers were from out of state! [...]
• Do you know what REALLY bugs your donors?
  As you all know, I’m a big believer in actually asking donors what they think rather than trying to read their mind. So yesterday I posted this question on LinkedIn.com: As a donor to charity, what do we nonprofits do that REALLY annoys the tar out of you? What do we do that irritates you? What do you [...]
• Invasion of Privacy or Customer Service?
  The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Prospecting blog has an interesting post about a new planned giving tool. Apparently, it’s a CD that donors can play to see the benefits of making a planned gifts and a charity can customize it to be the “charity of choice” for the example. But wait! There’s more: What worries some fund raisers, [...]
• Check out these “Don’t ‘Almost’ Give” ads!
  I just saw a very interest ad by the Ad Council. It was about the things that “almost” happened because people “almost” gave! Check out the ads at: Don’t Almost Give. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do [...]
• Out of the mouths of babes
  Last night, I held a free Ask Without Fear! fundraising seminar to a standing room only crowd at the local library. It’s always a rush to speak to a standing room only group. And these were mainly “normal people”–board members and volunteers. I love talking to this group! But my 8 year-old son had a different [...]
• Story telling tips
  Anyone that’s attended any of my fundraising seminars knows I’m a big fan of storytelling. The NY Times offers a great article called 5 Tips for Telling Better Stories. In short, they are: Keep it simple Openings and closings are very important Be mindful of your story’s spine Make sure not to alienate your audience Tell the truth It’s amazing how easy [...]