Grant writing is a skill that you hone over time. And just like a good craftsman, you need a good set of tools if you want to do the job well. Maybe you have an APA style guide. If you're old school, you might even have Mr. Webster's work sitting nearby. When it comes to proofreading and review, I'll bet you're probably using your word processor's spell check and grammar check features. And that's good. But there's more. (read more)

They say hindsight is 20/20. So, what does your nonprofit's 2020 data tell you? There are lots of ways to measure success beyond the bottom line. This post explores some of those metrics. The list here isn't exhaustive. But it will get you thinking beyond the bottom line - dollars raised. Looking back at your fundraising successes (or missteps) can help you plan ahead for a bright new year. (read more)

In case you missed a post (or just want to re-read a favorite), here are the top 5 nonprofit newsletter articles from 2020. Rankings are based on email open rates and social shares. (read more)

It happens every December. A lot of people will be out of the office. In fact, many nonprofits are closed the last three days of the year. Yet those are some of the busiest giving days of the year! Just because you're taking time off doesn't mean you should stop fundraising. This post offers a copy-and-paste message that will make it easy for your donor to give to your nonprofit in December, even when you're not there to help. (read more)

In case you missed a post (or just want to re-read a favorite), here are the top 5 nonprofit newsletter articles from 2019. Rankings are based on email open rates and social shares. (read more)

In case you missed a post (or just want to re-read a favorite), here are the top 5 articles from this past year. Rankings are based on email open rates and social shares. (read more)

PowerPoint presentations are a staple at most conferences. And as the title of this post suggests, PowerPoint seems to be here for good - or at least for the foreseeable future. If you're a trainer, and you use PowerPoint, you need to learn to use well, so you can help people learn. (read more)

Unless you're an accountant, you probably don't like tax forms. But if you're a nonprofit (and especially if you're a grant seeker), you should love them. That's because tax forms - specifically the 990-PF - are a terrific, free research tool. Tax forms are a treasure trove of information. You can learn about a foundation's giving guidelines, how much they give, who they've given to recently, and so much more. (read more)

In case you missed a post (or just want to re-read a favorite), here are the top 5 articles from this past year. Rankings are based on email open rates and social shares. (read more)

Savvy donors and foundations are using Guidestar to learn about your organization. And savvy nonprofits are using Guidestar to tell their organization's story. So, what does your Guidestar profile say about you? Guidestar promotes transparency, and you can earn a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum seal, based on what you share. What color is your profile? (read more)

There's a new school of thinking is that overhead isn't a bad thing, especially when those expenses are being used for growth. I like Peter Drury's metaphor - that overhead is like cholesterol. There's good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Just because your number is high, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. Do you know your number? (read more)

Google. Can you imagine life without it? We use it every single day and in so many ways. There's Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Hangouts, Maps and more. And we can't forget where it all started: good old-fashioned Search. And as much as you use Google, I'd bet there are tools and programs that you're not using...and that could benefit your nonprofit. Here are five of them. (read more)

How would you like to get a $10,000 grant? What about a monthly $10,000 grant? Guaranteed? You can! Really! Your nonprofit can get $10,000 each month in the form of a Google Ad Grant. What's a Google ad grant, you ask? And how does it work? This two-part post will answer those questions and many more. (read more)

How would you like to get a $10,000 grant? What about a monthly $10,000 grant? Guaranteed? You can! Really! Your nonprofit can get $10,000 each month in the form of a Google Ad Grant. What's a Google ad grant, you ask? And how does it work? This two-part post will answer those questions and many more. (read more)