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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
That’s a long time to partner with the nonprofit community. It’s even more amazing when you think of all the many changes Douglas Shaw & Associates has witnessed in nonprofit fundraising—but more importantly, how much has stayed the same.
Here at Douglas Shaw & Associates, we’ve learned that guessing about critical fundraising information is a sure-fire formula for poor decision-making.
Your donor data is invaluable, and your database contains critical information about your supporters—their giving history, preferred communication channels, and responsiveness to various appeals.
Incorporating AI and data analytics into fundraising efforts is more than just a strategy; it’s a pathway to building lasting donor relationships.
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