The Most Dangerous Stories in Fundraising
The stories that raise the most money often start in the hardest places. If you work in direct response fundraising, you know this already.
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Earning a Donor’s Trust Through Small, Strategic Steps
New donors generally make the choice to give because they believe the organization is in a position to fulfill a specific need. But they continue to give because they have built confidence in the organization.
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Using Technology to Build Trust with Your Donors—Supporting Relationships
Many of the fears about new technology center around the idea of machines replacing humans and crowding out meaningful interactions. Trying to connect with a customer service department but being met only with an out-of-touch chatbot can drive consumers away from the retailers who depersonalize their experience.
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Why Your Donation Page Technology Matters More Than You Think
When a potential donor is about to click “Give Now,” they’re not just making a financial decision—they’re making a trust decision. In that moment, your donation page becomes the most important touchpoint your organization has.
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WE WOULDN’T BE SERVING YOU WELL IF WE DIDN’T TELL YOU . . .
Here at Douglas Shaw & Associates, we believe we owe you the truth about direct response fundraising as we know it. Hopefully, those we have the privilege of serving as client-partners can vouch for us on this point.
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FINDING YOUR PACE: Identifying the Right Donor Acquisition Balance for Growth
I wouldn’t call myself a ‘runner.’ To me, runners are people who thrive on running—who find it exhilarating and energizing. I do run—because it’s good for me and I want to stay healthy—but I’m more of a “need a pep talk to make it up this hill” kind of runner.
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DONOR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS: Building and Maintaining Strong Relationships
On a daily basis at home, I have a growing population of wild chickens that like to hang around, climb the trees, and make a mess of my garden. In today’s climate, with egg prices the way they have been, you might say that I live on a modern-day goldmine. But when you also have a dog . . . things can get wild.
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MORE DONORS, MORE IMPACT: A Proven Formula for Fundraising Growth
In my 40+ years of raising funds for nonprofits, two facts have remained consistently clear: More income is always needed to serve more people, and more income is expected every year.
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It’s Douglas Shaw & Associates’ 30th Anniversary Year . . . So Why Should You Care?
One of the things we’ve learned over the past 30 years is that donors generally do NOT find the anniversary of a nonprofit organization to be a sufficient reason to give a gift! Of course, we learned it the way most of us do . . . by making mistakes.
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INNOVATING FOR IMPACT: Small Steps, Big Results
Thirty years ago, in 1994, I found myself stuck on the couch. A series of injuries left me unable to go outside and play like my friends. Instead, I spent hours with a stack of books and a mind that wouldn’t quit.
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