Dear amazing donor of the world,

I think about you every day. And not in a creepy way. I’m an admirer, not a stalker. Pinky swear.

And although I don’t know you personally, I do know…

You care. Hard.
You make difference. Every day.
And you don’t want to take credit for your good works. Any of them.

Which, to be honest, is tough. Because it’s all kinds of difficult (read: impossible) to run from the spotlight when you’re a human lighthouse constantly beaming lights of goodness into super dark places.

It’s also hard because if there’s one thing you should know, it’s this. I want to see you. The people who you help want to see you. And more than that, we want you to know that you are loved.

That’s right. Loved.

Loved, loved, LOVED.

Because without you, our lives, our families and our communities look different. And not in a good way. Because without you, the work we do in this sector – a sector that puts people first – doesn’t happen. Can’t happen. Won’t happen.

And people who are made to feel invisible in our communities remain unseen.

And they deserve to be seen.

And so do you.

So as you go about your day today and every day, I’d love for you to feel joy in your heart. Joy in knowing that you matter. That you are useful. And that you are hope in a rainbow-colored, glitter-adorned bottle.

Forever your biggest fan,

If you’re like me, Valentine’s Day hasn’t been fun since grade school, when all you had to do was paste a heart-shaped doily to a kraft paper bag and it would magically fill up with enough chocolate and candy to last a whole month. (Now that’s some serious ROI.) Somewhere along the way this heart happy holiday turned into either a reason to feel depressed (that you don’t have a sweetie) or obligated (if you do).

And it breaks my solid milk chocolate heart.

That’s why I’m delighted to announce that I am co-opting Valentine’s Day for us do-gooders and introducing our very first Valentine Swap. Sign up now, and not only will you get to swap treats with another fabulous do-gooder like yourself—someone who KNOWS how to make a goodie bag live up to its name—but you’ll also get your goodies through snail mail, which is just plain better at warming our little bleeding hearts.

Here’s how it works:

• Sign up using this form before January 26th.
• I’ll send you an email by January 28th with your swap partner’s details. (Psst…you might receive an international partner unless you request otherwise)
• Valentine goodies need to be in the mail no later than February 4th. Pretty please do not sign up if you aren’t able to meet this deadline. Nothing is more heartbreaking than sending a valentine and not getting one in return.
• Wondering what goodies to include? Be creative and have fun! But no matter what include a handwritten note.

XOXO,

It’s the end of the year—APPEAL SEASON! And if you’re like most fundraisers, you’re having vivid, haunting nightmares featuring annual fund thermometers sporting tiny Santa hats in a futile attempt to prevent turning a slow, icy blue as Elsa, the older sister from Disney’s Frozen (who looks uncannily like your Executive Director), zaps them mercilessly with an un-gloved finger while cackling, “Why didn’t YOU think of the ice bucket challenge! What are we paying you for?!”

Or something like that.

Dear fundraiser, what I would like you to focus on in these moments of panic, is gratitude.

As responses to your appeal come in, be prepared to warm your donors’ hearts with letters overflowing with gratitude and adoration. And, most importantly, letters that do not include another ask. If you find this difficult, you can learn from Elsa: Wear thick protective gloves that will physically prevent the impulse to stuff in that business reply envelope. (Sure it converts—but just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.) Re-direct all that pent-up energy into being more thankful, more personal, more creative in how you set your donors’ spirits aglow.

Not going to change your mind? Then save yourself the time and use the following template (which is how the donor will read it anyway):

Dear [Donor],

Thank you for your recent, yet mediocre, generosity. You are [a generic phrase we use for everybody else who donated]! 

BUT, we want more money!

Sincerely grateful, 

[Ungrateful organization]

P.S. Did you see the enclosed donation envelope? The postage is on us!

If you are guilty of sending such a thank you letter in the past, do not despair. Let it go. (Yep, I just said that.) Write the words you know in your heart of hearts people really want to hear, no matter how risky it may feel. Think of a well-crafted and genuine thank you letter as the fundraising version of true love’s kiss—it’s the only thing that will save you from the fundraising freeze now, next year, and in years to come.

Clockwise from top left: Eggpress / Rifle Paper Co. / Duke & Rabbit / 1 Canoe 2 / Rifle Paper Co. / Wit & Whistle

I heart holidays. Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, National Donut Day (yep, that’s a real one), I love ’em all. Why? Because it’s another excuse to go card shopping! Holidays are the perfect time to send happy mail.

A few years back, I started a Halloween-themed 5K for my organization, and my favorite stewardship activity was sending Halloween cards to our event sponsors. Because who sends Halloween cards? No one. Talk about a ghoulishly-great opportunity to stand out!

So for funsies, I thought I’d share a selection of cards I’m mailing to donors this year. And in case you’re wondering what I write on the inside of the card, here are a few simple greetings I use:

• You’re spooktacular! Because of you, _________ (impact example).
• You’re fa-boo-lous! Thank you for your kindness and commitment to _________. (people/things you serve)
• Who’s terror-ific? You’re terror-ific! Without you, _________ (impact example).

Fun, right? Bet you a bag of candy corn your donors will think so too.

P.S. This card made me belly laugh, so I bought a bunch to send to family and friends.

Lots. (And lots and lots.) That’s the number of speakers I’ve coached to make asks at fundraising events the past 10+ years.

While I always knew the process was a terrifying one for most speakers (being stuck alone in a hotel room with a Bengal tiger would probably be less stressful), I never knew HOW MUCH. Until now.

That picture up there? That’s me.

I’m sharing my story (and a few minutes out from making the ask) at a recent event for a phenomenal, heart-fluttering and game-changing organization in my community.

Now, I might look poised and confident in that photo, but had you seen me a few days earlier, you would have been handing me Kleenex while I ugly cried all over your shoulder.

I always knew that making the ask is easy.

Telling your story leading up to that moment, however? ALL THE FEELS.

That’s where speakers get stuck. Even though I’ve experienced so many talented people become paralyzed while writing their remarks, I never (really) understood what was happening. Now I know.

If you want to help your speaker, it’s important for you to know the thought bubbles that are hovering above their head as they write and practice their story.

So in no particular order (because they’re all equally anxiety inducing), here’s what’s playing—on an endless repeat mode—in your speaker’s head:

1. I’m (OH SO) afraid I’m going to disappoint this organization.
2. My story is junk. It’s not worthy. I’m not worthy.
3. WHY OH WHY, DID I SAY “YES”?!? THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISASTER.

Whether or not you’ve ever coached someone to tell their story at your event, this is what’s happening for them.

Let me tell you how you can make your speaker feel less doubtful and more confident as they prepare their remarks.

In no particular order (because they’re all equally muy importante), here’s how you make your speaker feel loved, appreciated, and hopeful that their words will move hearts at your event.

• Send your speaker notes of encouragement. (Lots of ‘em.)
  This organization showered me with compliments and atta-girls daily. From texts to handwritten notes, I felt so valued and well supported. My favorite one-liner? “Speaking with you is like opening a bottle of rainbow!”

• Ask (don’t tell) your speaker when they will feel most comfortable sharing draft remarks.
  The fab fundraising team I was working with could have given me a deadline, but instead, they gave me their trust. So rather than feeling rushed, my story could unfold itself in its own time. And because of that, my words felt more authentic and real.

• Provide remarks that other speakers will be making at the event (especially if they proceed your speaker.)
  My remarks and ask were made stronger knowing what stories were being shared before my own. Being able to weave their words into my own strengthened my remarks and tied the ask (and giving hefty emotional weight) to other powerful stories that were shared that night.

Honestly, I could share even more ways to help your speaker, but I’ll save that for another time.

Because right now, all I want to do is wrap myself—and my heart—in the magic of that night. (And in case you’re wondering, the organization raised more than double their fundraising goal that night for foster care kiddos who are waiting and wishing for a family to adopt them and love ‘em for life.)

You know that feeling when you get your hair done + you not-so-secretly want everyone to notice because it looks so darn good? That. Except it’s not my hair, it’s my blog. My brand new blog! And I’m ALL CAPS EXCITED about it.

But why celebrate me + my new thing, when I’d rather celebrate YOU?

Enter (drumroll, please) my very first giveaway! Instead of poppin’ champs, I’m packing surprise boxes instead. What’s inside? I’m not spilling any secrets, but it may or may not include (hint, hint): a bundle of my favorite stationery, a fancy notebook for jotting down brilliant ideas, a confetti push-pop, a sweet Seattle treat + other fun goodies.

So how do you get your hands on one? Simple. Get in the comments + tell me what you enjoy most about being a do-gooder. Make sure to get your entry in by this Friday, April 18 at midnight PST. And I’ll announce the lucky winners on Monday.

Good luck + happy commenting!

High fives + hugs to the super talented Kory Woodard, who designed my fabulous new space on the interwebs. Add her to your favorites list. You’ll thank me later.

UPDATE: Thank you, everyone, for your heartfelt comments. You inspire me. It was too hard to choose so I enlisted the help of a random number generator instead (my little ones pulling names out of an Easter basket). Congrats, Nicole, Jenn + Sarah! Say hi and send over your address, okay?

 

Ever have an idea pop into your head that won’t leave you alone? It’s there when you take a shower in the morning, when you’re sitting in a mile-long traffic jam, and when it’s almost midnight and all you want to do is sleep. Yeah, me too. But sometimes that constant nagging in your brain is a good thing, especially when it leads to fun times on the interwebs.

Did I lose you there? No worries, I’m going to reel you back in real fast. At the end of last year, I came up with the idea of launching a live monthly video chat featuring fabulous, super smart folks who could inspire, cheer on, and educate (in a fun way) overwhelmed do-gooders. Great idea, right? Well, I think so, which is why I’ve decided to give it a go. So…

Nonprofit Pep Talks is launching this Monday!

And oh my Hollywood stars, guess who I snagged as my first guest? Philanthrostar (totally a word by the way) Peter Drury, director of strategy at Splash. If you struggle to get your organization on the same fundraising page, you won’t want to miss it. And because it’s a super special day for me—and the Irish too (my people by the way)—I’m giving away lots of goodies.

To get in on the fun, all you need to is join us live on Google+ this Monday, 11am PST/12noon CST/2pm EST. Don’t have a Google account? No problem. You can watch it on YouTube too. However, if you want to have fun with us in the chat room, you’ll need to set up a Google+ account. It’s super easy. Pinky promise.

Hope to see you (and maybe a leprechaun or two) on Monday!

Have a question for Peter? Post a comment on the Google+ event page or tag it on Twitter with the hashtag #npeptalks. 

Hello, 2014. So nice to meet you.

At the bottom of the stairs with a broken toe. Wait, what? That’s right, clumsy me decided to literally fall into the new year. Wasn’t quite the momentum I was looking for, but I’ll take it all the same.

This year, I’m trying something different in the resolution department. I still have a handful of “go get ’em tiger “goals, but new and more importantly, I have a word. One word to sum up who I want to be and how I want to live every day, all year long. And it’s: love.

Huge word. Way out of my comfort zone. But there it is, and here I am.

So with that word top of mind and center of heart, I’m launching a special project this year for do-gooders who could use a little mailbox love. In this day and age, where ALL THE DIGITAL THINGS are taking over our lives, it’s becoming way too rare to receive a handwritten note. In an envelope. With a stamp. Delivered by post.

And I say, no more! If you spend your days loving on people in need, then you deserve some happy in your mailbox. That’s why I’m launching my Better than an Email Project. Could you use a handwritten note? I’d love (see, there’s my word for 2014 again) to send you one. You’ll just need to tell me where to mail it.

See you in your mailbox soon!

Almost there, fundraisers. In just a few short weeks, we’ll be poppin’ champagne and Martinelli bottles and toasting our amazing fundraising feats of 2013.

But first, we have to survive the madness of year-end. And to make it more fun, here’s a quick little guide to help you handle it like a jingle bell rock star.

1. Insist that board members who have yet to make their annual gift wear a Grinch costume to your holiday social.
2. Send LYBUNT donors a letter addressed from Santa informing them they made the Naughty list.
3. Eat a holiday cookie for every email bounce back message you receive through the end of the year.
4. Use leftover direct mail premiums for Secret Santa gifts.
5. Bring a gingerbread house replica of your capital campaign project to your next donor visit.
6. Spike your gift processor’s eggnog latte with Red Bull and chronicle his ensuing antics at Facebook. (Extra points for pictures.)
7. Sign your holiday cards as Overhead.

Do you have a favorite trick for surviving year-end festivities? Tell me in the comments!