Here we are in December already. And winter is actually upon us! For those of us engaged in fundraising, we’re about to fold up the chairs of 2019 and get the room ready for 2020. If facing the new year feels like the sun has stopped…
Keys to Building a Monthly Donor Program
Foundations matter. And the best time to fix a faulty foundation is before you start building on it. When it comes to building a monthly donor program (aka a sustainer program), this is especially important because all your assumptions will get cemented into the foundation of its structure.
We are Thankful
Just before Thanksgiving, 25 years ago, my family’s dining room table became more than a place for a holiday meal. It provided the platform for millions of meals, as my father started Douglas Shaw & Associates right then and there, going on to serve alongside dozens of compassionate organizations and ministries worldwide.
Before you send out that RFP
Your donor relationships are your treasured possession. Every interaction they have with you must reinforce that their generosity is making a life-changing difference. The voice and cadence of asking and thanking; the clarity of how their gift will make an impact; and the compelling reason to give now must ring true through every message on every channel.
Emerging Trends for Digital Fundraising Growth
Organizations have a lot of digital networks and tools available to them. That’s useful, because your subscribers and followers want to feel personally connected to your mission. But as new networks seem to pop up all the time…
Ask Wiley: Is there any research to validate the need for direct mail in communication with donors?
With much excitement, we announce a new Donor Focus column that answers queries from fundraisers like you by Wiley Stinnett, our veteran SVP, Executive Creative Director. The first question up: “Is Direct Mail Dead?”
Inside this Issue Celebrating 25 Years Of Service
This is a rather emotional column for me to write. On October 24th 1994, twenty-five years ago, I sat down in my dining room and began Douglas Shaw & Associates. I remember well both the excitement and the fear! Excitement, stemming from all of the opportunities…
Celebrating 25 Years Of Service What Is Right With The World
Founder and CEO, Doug Shaw, spent years working at agencies whose clients, over time, had one common message for him: start your own company. Little did he realize that hearing those simple yet encouraging words from faithful clients 25 years ago would be the catalyst to Douglas Shaw & Associates.
Unexpected Gifts at Year-End? Yes, Please!
What You Need to Know: Nonprofit Texting
As mailboxes, inboxes, and social feeds get more complex and crowded, there’s one platform out there that stands alone with a 95% open rate—text messages. Their unique ability to get a message right in front of your donors raises huge potential…