Blogs
Blogs
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The Relationship Advantage: Using Cause Selling to Retain Major Gifts
Let’s face it: fundraising is a high-stakes game. Competition is steep, and the strategies behind major gift fundraising have shifted completely. I know this firsthand from spending the bulk of my career as a major gifts fundraiser and then transitioning into advising high-net-worth individuals on their charitable giving.
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From Connection to Commitment: Applying the Cause Selling Cycle to Everyday Fundraising
In fundraising, it is easy to fall into the trap of seeing gifts as transactions: a donation is made, a gift acknowledgment letter is sent, and the focus shifts immediately to the next solicitation. But the Fundraising Academy Cause Selling Cycle reminds us that successful fundraising is a relationship-focused, continuous, and donor-centered process. The goal…
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Keep Donors Coming Back: Data-Backed Retention
Donor retention is what turns one-time generosity into a sustainable community of support. But across the sector, retention has hovered around 43%, and first-time donor retention can dip as low as 19%. Bloomerang’s Mission Retainable research — based on a November 2024 survey of more than 380 fundraisers and 1,000 donors — helps explain why…
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Cultivation with Intention: Turning First Impressions into Meaningful Relationships
In fundraising, every gift begins long before a proposal is ever written. It starts with a conversation, a moment of curiosity, and a relationship that is built with care. Intentional cultivation is not about moving a donor quickly toward a gift — it’s about moving them thoughtfully toward partnership.
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How Culture and Cause Selling Shape the Donor Journey
A culture of philanthropy means everyone — board, staff, and volunteers — values relationships and fundraising, and all contribute to advancing the organization’s mission. Fundraising and donor engagement are joint responsibilities, grounded in the principle that philanthropy is about building relationships and involves every staff member, not just the development team.