Jim Langley

Donor Relations Can Never Be the Sole Responsibility of Advancement Sustained fundraising success requires sustaining donor trust which obligates organizational leaders to be careful about the promises they make to donors and doubly diligent about the ones they already made. A stewardship office, no matter how ably staffed, is only as effective as it manifests a larger lived ethic of accountability across the institution. Institutional leaders have to hold all recipients of private funds accountable to the donor. Most donors say they have been sufficiently thanked but under-informed about the impact of their giving. The CEO is the chief impact officer. Everyone in an executive position should know the names of the 25 most generous donors and the 25 most loyal donors (measured by years of giving). Members of the staff who give should be afforded the same respect and recognition as all other donors. Leaders engender gratitude and engrain accountability within. They understand that philanthropy begins at home.

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The Far Side of Fundraising Tip of the Week Transactional fundraising leads to high rates of donor loss. Most organizations lose 4 out of 5 first-time donors. The more rapidly and impersonally we secure support, the more we sub-optimize giving potential and the more rapidly donors depart. High rates of donor attrition, coupled with the continue contraction of giving households, spell long-term disaster for most nonprofits. Don't follow the transactional lemmings as they plunged into the sea. Adopt sustainable practices. You may be in the minority but you will help your organization survive and eventually thrive. This one requires that you closely to see who stands out in adopting sustainable practices.

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Important new report from First Nations Development Institute, led by the indefatigable Mike Roberts, that shows the poor inclusion of Native people on foundation boards. Shocking stat: "The report notes that 93% of America’s largest foundations do not have any Native American representation on their board of directors." Link to the report in the comments.

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🌟 Get Funded with Expert Grant Writing & Program Evaluation Services! 🌟 Our services optimize your proposals for sustained grant success. 📝✨ #Nonprofit #GrantWriting #FundingSuccess #NonprofitManagement #REAAnalytics

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How are afterschool and OST leaders approaching the intersection of STEM with youth leadership and community engagement in their programming? #CYESS conducted a study to find out! A new report describes findings from their latest survey and recommendations for what programs need to amplify and scale such approaches. https://conta.cc/3XmMXNm

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Having just gone through the experience of sitting for my CFRE, I can't emphasize enough how valuable this webinar will be for anyone considering pursuing their certification. Join to learn more about the application process and requirements, the basics of the test itself, and connect with others in your shoes! #cfre #fundraising #afpmaryland #webinar #professionaldevelopment

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"To increase the chances of a proposal being funded, it is important to thoroughly research the funding organization, understand their objectives and criteria, and tailor the proposal accordingly." Read more #grantwriting tips in my book, The Queen of Grants, available now at https://lnkd.in/dEyTbn3G

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Learn the steps for making a professional capital campaign solicitation that we train our committee members to use. Read now!

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I’ve written about year-end planning a lot, including messaging tips and strategies to leverage matching gifts and prioritize your major donors. All of those recommendations still apply this year, but 2024 is likely to be very different because of the election. Whether your work is steeped in advocacy and the outcome of the election is pivotal to your mission or you’re further removed from policies or government, your donors are likely to be distracted and preoccupied this fall. What does this mean for you? It’s more important than ever that you have a clear strategy and solid plan in place for year-end fundraising this year. Read more here. Also, as a bonus, we have a complimentary end-of-year planning template. To get your copy, please comment below. https://lnkd.in/gb-_jaQx

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Before You Approach a Major Donor. Sophisticated, thoughtful donors want to know what the vision is for the project at hand. What will the organization be able to do that it cannot do without their philanthropic support? https://lnkd.in/eJjNjfVc

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Leading a nonprofit in this uncertain moment? Check out this election scenario planning toolkit developed by The Bridgespan Group. An impressive set of resources and reflection questions to prepare for the unknown (it’s never too late) or known at some point post Election Day (and all the legal challenges). https://lnkd.in/epMs7gSV

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The board is responsible for ensuring the resources of the organization they govern. One of ways to ensure resources is fundraising. Whether drafting your first board fundraising policy or updating an existing one, here are key elements, tips, and  some policy suggestions to get you started:

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📈 Seven Metrics to Evaluate your Fundraising Program's Performance 📈 💹 Percent change in Revenue Year-over-Year (Y-O-Y) 💹 Donor count 💹 Gift Counts (# of monthly donors, # of recurring donors, # of look-a-like donors) 💹 Percent change in Institutional Revenue Year-over-Year (Y-O-Y) 💹 Percent change in Annual Fund Revenue Year-over-Year (Y-O-Y) 💹 Percent change in Public Grant Revenue Year-over-Year (Y-O-Y) 💹 Percent change in Earned Income Revenue Year-over-Year (Y-O-Y) What metrics do you use to evaluate the health and efficacy of your fundraising program? Drop a comment. 👇 #KiaCroomFundraising #Nonprofit #Fundraiser #TheGoToBIPOCFundraiser #Social Justice

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