Would you love to…. Feel confident that you have the skills and know-how to raise enough money to support your nonprofit? Know that you have donors who are true partners in supporting your work?
Some of my clients:
Are you wishing that you had enough money to fulfill your nonprofit mission?
Are you wanting to get past your feelings that fundraising is like begging?
Then you’re in the right place.Â
You’re ready to build your fundraising muscle.
You’re ready to feel confident about your skills.
You’re ready to feel proud when you ask for support of your mission and your work.
You just need some help getting there!
Let me know if this is you
- As the head of your nonprofit, you know a deeper understanding of the art and science of fundraising is going to play a pivotal role in accomplishing your mission.Â
- You’ve recently launched a nonprofit, you’re starting to achieve some success with your mission, you’re making change in the world. But you know that if you could raise more money you could do so much more!Â
- You are passionate about your mission, you believe deeply in what you are doing, and you know that you could inspire people to give, but you just don’t know anyone who can give significant gifts.
- You know you need to ask for contributions, but it feels embarrassing, it feels like you are bothering people, it feels like begging.
- You have all the right people gathered to successfully fulfill your mission, but you need to find more donors to really fuel your work.
- When you look at other nonprofits it seems like they are raising so much money—they have a long list of donors on their website, corporate underwriters for every event, and lots of community support—you want to know their secrets!
 Does this sound like you?
Then you are in the right place!
I've been there
You see that other nonprofits raise thousands, even millions for their cause, but you just can’t figure out how you can do it.
Maybe you are wondering who would just “give” you that kind of money?
Are you wondering how you can find a way to ask for money that doesn’t feel uncomfortable, that doesn’t feel like you might annoy people and embarrass yourself?
Oh boy, does this resonate with me!
When I first started my fundraising career I just couldn’t believe that people would write checks for thousands of dollars, even millions. Just giving it away! And it was so frightening and intimidating to ask.
It seemed really unnatural to ask people to give $500, $1000, $25,000, $1 million.Â
But I’ve asked people to give all of those amounts, and I’ve coached my clients to do the same. Sometimes people said “no” or “maybe” or “not right now.” But sometimes they said “yes!"
And what really amazed me was how much joy and satisfaction donors had in writing those checks. They were often more excited about giving money than I was in hearing that magic word “yes.”
That’s when the lightbulb went off in my head.
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Once I realized that, once I realized that people found profound joy in giving away money, that’s when I fell in love with fundraising, that’s when I got over the embarrassment of asking, that’s when I realized that the giver was getting a lot of joy and satisfaction out of the transaction, too. It wasn’t begging, it was providing opportunities to make a difference.
It was matching resources with solutions.
Of course donors felt wonderful.
And by asking for their donation, I was helping them match their resources to great solutions.
And that’s when I knew that the potential for fueling great nonprofit missions is limitless.
What makes the difference?
Successful fundraising goes far beyond just "asking for money." It involves seeking collaborative partnerships, cultivating a supportive community, and fostering unwavering commitment.
This is work, but it’s joyful work, and it is work that pays off in spades.
Once you know how to build a mission-driven community the money will follow.
Everything you might have heard about fundraising is wrong
It’s not cornering people...
It’s not arm twisting...
It’s not hard sell...
It’s not empty your wallets...
It’s not begging...
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A confession...
I am guilty of using some bad fundraising tactics in my past. I have twisted arms, I have cornered people, I have tried hard-sell tactics. And they oftened worked in the short run, but they don’t encourage partnership or long term donor relationships. The people I cornered avoided me at events, the people who’s arms I twisted did not want to take my phone calls. No one wants to feel like an ATM.
You do need to ask people for money to fuel your mission, but you need to invite people in first, you need to build your community.
Fundraising is so much more than the moment of “the ask.”
I used to think it was about meeting monetary goals. Now I think it’s about building human connections and partnerships.
Once you’ve built your donor community, they will stick by you through thick and thin. When you need additional funds for a new program you want to launch, or to manage an unexpected emergency, you can turn to them with confidence, because you know they are your partners.
What are you waiting for?
Let’s get started!
About the program
Starting on the September 20th, we'll do an 8-week deep dive into the fundraising basics.
You'll learn about:
- Building your donor community
- Storytelling as a key component of good solicitation
- Finding and applying for grant opportunitiesÂ
- Building strong relationships with donors
- Researching potential donors
- ... and so much more!
BONUS:
You will have the opportunity to ask questions in bi-weekly live hot seat coaching events.
You will also have a chance to get comfortable with “making the ask” in four live practice sessions.
Sandra and her team...
"...defined our fundraising priorities and gave us greater confidence as we approach supporters for gifts that advance our mission of caring."
- Paula Rimmer, Martha and Mary Lutheran Services
"...really helped guide us … in all aspects of development from planning and strategy to content creation, database management and stewardship activities. We have seen a definite return on the investment."
- Amy Wood, Raymond A. Wood Foundation
"... has been an invaluable asset for our community-building and fundraising efforts… and helped the organization become more comfortable with a community-centric fundraising model."
- Susan J. Vitucci, Ensemble Studio Theatre
"...gave me valuable strategies when asking for major gifts… ensured I was as informed as possible when approaching new prospective donors, and set up systems and processes to keep all of our fundraising activities highly organized."
- Josh Prince, Dance Lab New York
This course is perfect for you if you are...
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Someone with a growth mindset
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Wanting to build a community
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Seeing donors as partners
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Committed to learn by doing
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Resourceful
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Someone who sees this as an investment
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Resilient
This course is NOTÂ the best for you if you are...
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Someone who sees this as an expense
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Hoping someone else can do the fundraising
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Thinks that fundraising is distasteful and shady
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Looking for a quick fix
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Someone who has an “I already know that” mindset
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You need to know the end results before you start
If you implement the strategies you'll learn in this course, you can spend more time working on your mission, and less on wondering how to meet your expenses.
WOULD YOU LOVE TO:
- Feel confident that you will meet your goals for fundraising?
- Know that your email campaign is going to inspire people to support your nonprofit?
- Build donor relationships that are rewarding, fulfilling, impactful?
- Know that you have enough resources?
- Free up your time to fulfill your mission?
- Know how to make fundraising conversations enjoyable?
