Opinion


Cookie Dough Fundraiser Selling Secrets

Posted on 02 September 2010

Selling cookie dough is probably one of the easiest ways to raise money for a small group. Because what’s being sold is food – and a cookie at that! – a lot of people will surely be enticed to buy this ultimate comfort food. Cookie dough presents an easy alternative to people who are too [...]

Helpful Tips for Sports Team Fundraisers

Posted on 30 August 2010

Each year, sports teams nationwide from all age groups are finding the need to buy new equipment and gear. However, not all team members can always afford these gears. Sports teams can organize fundraising events or carry out small fundraising activities that will allow them to gather enough funds to buy sports gears. Joining tournaments [...]

Q&A: Nonprofits charging for services?

Posted on 26 July 2010

Friday I received an interesting question by email. I thought other nonprofits may be in a similiar situation and would benefit from this Q&A and/or have some feedback to add. Hi, Sandra, Recently, there has been an explosion of discussion among nonprofits in our local area around soliciting clients for a donation who are recipients [...]

Improve Your Fundraising by Thinking Big

Posted on 18 May 2010

If there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s thinking small.  Far too many people spend their time and energy thinking small.  That’s true in the wider world, and it’s true in fundraising. There are a lot of fundraisers in the world – some professional, some volunteer.  Some work on staff, some consult, some are on [...]

6 Reasons NOT to Start a New Nonprofit Organization

Posted on 27 March 2010

Occasionally I will get an email asking how to start a nonprofit organization.  There are several great resources online that can help, but before I get to that I always kindly caution them on a few points. It is very time and labor intensive to start a nonprofit.  You should be certain that this is [...]

Philanthropy reveals true character

Posted on 08 March 2010

Grace Groner lived through the Great Depression, so saving money was her expertise. Nobody knew just how much she had saved until she died in January at age 100 and left $7 million to Lake Forest College, her alma mater…. “She could have lived in any house in Lake Forest but she chose not to. [...]

Does Stigma Impact Your Fundraising Efforts?

Posted on 22 February 2010

A few years ago, I was trying to drum up participation in our upcoming Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk by hosting a booth at a community fair. I had cheery, purple decorations (purple is the signature color of the Alzheimer’s cause), freebies such as pens and magnets, and lots of information about our walk to benefit [...]