FUNdraising Good Times: Don’t forget to ask
Events are a tried-and-true fundraising method. They can also be an expensive trap that derails your fundraising if you neglect to make the ask.
Mel and Pearl Shaw
Columnists
Mel and Pearl Shaw, owners of fundraising consulting firm Saad&Shaw, can be reached at 901-522-8727 or saadandshaw.com. They help nonprofits, businesses, universities, and philanthropy tell their story, and build capacity.
There are 27 articles by Mel and Pearl Shaw :
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March 2023
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March 2019
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: How to secure grant support, Part 1
If your organization has never received grant funding, here are three things to know about applying.
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: Build your fundraising dream team
If you could add three dream-team members to your current team, who would you pick? Here are 18 possibilities to consider.
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: Crisis fundraising - are you ready to be a first responder?
A fundraising crisis can arise due to a loss of revenue, storm damage, a lawsuit, vandalism, or loss of a key employee. It could be unexpected, or it could have been looming on the horizon.
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February 2019
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: Jazz with a higher purpose
This Fourth of July weekend will be the 10th anniversary of the Ocean City Jazz Festival. The event's growth highlights black philanthropy and the strength and assets of black communities across the country.
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: Don’t underestimate the value of in-kind services and resources
Cash is king, but organizations can expand their fund development and fundraising to include in-kind gifts and services. Here are five benefits and things to consider when building an in-kind program.
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: 12 questions to ask before agreeing to serve as a campaign leader
Leading a fundraising campaign requires groundwork that you alone cannot build. Here are 12 things you need to be curious about before you say yes or no.
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January 2019
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: Creating your nonprofit business plan
Does a nonprofit need a business plan? The answer is yes. With this column we share guidance from Bridget Ciaramitaro, experienced nonprofit planner, so you can get to work planning for the business success of your nonprofit. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: How to create strategic and fundraising plans
Nonprofit planner Bridget Ciaramitaro, president of Ciaramitaro & Associates LLC, defines strategic plans and fundraising plans and explains how to create them.
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: Three cornerstone plans all nonprofits need
Planning is at the heart of nonprofit organizations and institutions. That’s everyone from grassroots organizations, to colleges and universities, to hospitals and museums, to international aid organizations, and more. Planning is the work of the board, executive leadership, staff, volunteers, and community members and stakeholders. All have a role to play. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: Should you start a nonprofit? Close one?
The new year brings good intentions, some of which include starting a nonprofit organization. Another less-talked-about intention is closing an existing nonprofit. With this column we share thoughts on the large number of nonprofits. We provide a list of questions that individuals, board members and community leaders can ask of themselves, their organizations, and philanthropists and funders. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: Evaluate 2018 to make 2019 great
As the years change, many of us reflect on the past and make promises for the future. We have visions of the wonderful things we will do personally, professionally and, most of all, for the nonprofits we serve. We’re with you on that journey with a few suggestions that relate to your nonprofit service.
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December 2018
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: A Christmas gift that lasts a lifetime
“She has been there for me and I have been there for her.” This is the story of a woman who gave her kidney to her best friend, so she could have a longer life and a higher quality of life. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: What a feasibility study can reveal
How brave are you, and what are you willing to learn and act on in order to grow your fundraising? If you have courage you may be ready for a fundraising feasibility study. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: Get ahead of the curve with a pre-2019 strategy
Yes, it’s time to focus on year-end giving at work and to celebrate with friends and family after hours. But let us suggest you find some time for pre-2019 strategy to get you ahead of the curve. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: A nonprofit’s letter to Santa
Think letters to Santa are written only by kids? Think again. We found this letter floating across a local parking lot and thought it best to share, just in case there’s a Santa out there.
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November 2018
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Business FUNdraising Good Times: Your dollar makes a difference
Whether it’s Giving Tuesday or year-end giving, your gift is truly a gift. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: Nonprofits can’t rely on Saint Nick for a windfall
Nonprofits who conduct year-end campaigns may unconsciously believe in Santa Claus. Some – though by no means all – are looking for a year-end windfall gift to appear between now and Dec. 31. -
Business FUNdraising Good Times: Increase your fundraising success with matching gifts
There’s a public secret that benefits many individuals and nonprofits. It’s called matching gifts. That’s the term for when an employer – or other organization – commits to make a gift to a nonprofit that “matches” the gift made by an employee or other qualified individual. -
Guest Columnists FUNdraising: Ten last-minute year-end campaign ideas
It’s almost 2019 – do you have a plan for year-end fundraising?
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October 2018
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Shalom to our brothers and sisters
We write today to share our grief and sorrow with the Jewish community of Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and with the Jewish community here in the Mid-South. We reach out to our Jewish – and non-Jewish – readers and take a public stand against anti-Semitism. What happened this past Saturday, Oct. 27, is horrific. To our Jewish friends, neighbors, community and national leaders, we say shalom. Peace. -
FUNdraising Good Times: Creating black led inner-city land conservancies
With this column we offer food for thought. We want to start a conversation and encourage people to find a way we can protect historically black neighborhoods and grow them through inner-city, nonprofit land conservancies that African-Americans establish, contribute to, fundraise for, are actively involved in and govern. -
Business How to cultivate fundraising relationships
We all have relationships. When it comes to fundraising – especially major gift fundraising – the question is this: Do you – or those you know – have relationships with individuals who can make or influence major gifts? -
Business Where do we go from here? Into action
Editor’s note: Part four of a four-part series. We were recently asked to speak to the Memphis Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). We share these remarks here as we believe they are important to all of us who care about Memphis. -
Business Inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in fundraising and philanthropy
Editor's note: Part Three of a four part series.
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