The November Action Calendar for Small Nonprofits
Whom to write, what to say and when to send it, from Election Day to Giving Tuesday November may be the busiest month of the year in a small …
Practical advice, examples, and resources to help small nonprofit leaders strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers, board members, and community partners through thoughtful, personal communication.
How Can a Small Nonprofit Cultivate Board Members and Turn Them Into Ambassadors?
Short answer Thank each board member personally for the specific things they do, keep them supplied with stories from your work, and invite them to …
How Can a Small Nonprofit Thank Volunteers So They Stay Committed?
Short answer Thank each volunteer for the specific thing they did, soon after they did it, and tell them what difference it made. Recognition that …
How Can I Build Donor Relationships If I’m Shy About Talking to Donors?
Short answer: Start with notes. Writing lets you choose your words at your own pace, and a few warm notes give you and the donor something to talk …
Be Swift to Love: A Benediction for Everyone Who Serves
[Updated 2026] Some words stay with you for years. For me, one of those is a benediction, or blessing, given at the closing Eucharist of the 2010 …
How Can a Nonprofit Executive With No Extra Time Keep Up With Donor Notes?
Short Answer Set aside fifteen minutes a week, keep everything you need in one place, and write three to five short notes in a single sitting. That …
Start by listening: The First Step in Building Lasting Donor, Prospect, and Volunteer Relationships
Listening may be the most powerful tool in your whole connection toolbox. “Listening is music to another’s heart. It is the unspoken …
How Often Should a Small Nonprofit Contact Donors Without Bothering Them?
Short answer: Plan on at least one personal, no-ask contact each season, plus a prompt thank-you after every gift, so that your thank-yous and …
What Can I Write to a Donor When I’m Not Asking for Money?
Short Answer Write about one specific thing their past gift made possible, described in a sentence only you could write, and close without any …