ASP News

Stay informed with our news, tips and resources designed to help you be successful in your mission.

5 tips for ensuring your strategic plan stays off the shelf

By Jen Pendleton, vice-president, Aly Sterling Philanthropy

Don’t worry, this isn’t another article about the strategic plan that sits on the proverbial shelf.

But it is an article about the BoardSource study, Leading With Intent 2017, that reports that “boards are not fully engaging in strategy.”

Let that statement sink in for a minute. If you’re a board member or executive director, this is probably not surprising. The truth is…

Open Position: Regional Major Gifts Officer at ProMedica [Apply to Aly Sterling Philanthropy]

In an effort to expand its donor operations and donor base, the ProMedica philanthropy team is seeking to engage an experienced Regional Major Gifts Officer in each of the following areas:

• Chicago
• Cleveland/Pittsburgh
• Florida
• Philadelphia/New Jersey/Delaware
• Virginia/D.C./Maryland

In each region, the position will be responsible for closing major philanthropic gifts that help ProMedica fulfill its mission as a national health and wellness nonprofit. Read on for more details and to apply…

6 Strategies to Raise More with Online Fundraising

Online fundraising is a surefire way to connect with donors and drive amazing results. Use these essential tips to raise online funds and boost engagement.

Columbus Humane is seeking an experienced development director

Columbus Humane is seeking an experienced development director responsible for designing and executing its overall fund development strategy including annual giving, major and capital gifts and planned giving. The ideal candidate is an energetic self-starter with...

Are donor retention rates really that important?

At the core of many nonprofits’ fundraising strategy is the goal to acquire new donors. Why? Because finding more donors just seems like the right thing to do. It feels good to share in your annual report that you’ve spread the word about your cause to new people and convinced them to donate.

As a matter of fact, the phrase “we need to find more donors” is one of the most common things I hear spoken around board tables. This is because donor acquisition numbers have somehow become the standard by which we judge fundraising success. And while donor acquisition is vital for the sake of your donor pipeline, it’s not necessarily the best way (or the easiest way) to raise more money. Instead, you should focus heavily on…

6 Donor Retention Strategies You Probably Haven’t Thought Of

Donor retention is incredibly important for the long-term health of your nonprofit and the success of larger, more involved fundraising efforts such as capital campaigns. Nonprofits with higher-than-average donor retention rates typically achieve this through a focus...

Scholarships for AFP membership

Do you know someone who could use a little help paying for their membership to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)?

If so, you might like to know that many local AFP chapters offer need-based scholarships every year. Applicants just need to fill out a brief application and agree to attend meetings and complete a scholarship evaluation at the end of the year.

Four ways to apply the findings of Women Give 2019

A report released last month by the IUPUI Women’s Philanthropy Institute validates what we’ve long observed: Generosity is not limited by race, ethnicity or gender.

The report, Women Give 2019, finds that generosity is a value shared by all communities, and that women across race and ethnicity are leading through philanthropy.

There’s more to the study, including the unique perspectives of women of color as well as information about how income and wealth disparity affect giving. However, the overall message is an important one: the face of philanthropy is diverse.

Don’t miss Gail Perry, register by Friday!

We’re bringing Gail Perry to AFP Detroit on April 25!

We’re excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with the Greater Detroit Chapter of AFP Michigan to host a one-day workshop on April 25 with Gail Perry, international fundraising consultant and author.

The workshop – Fire up your board for fundraising: Turn their passion into action – will share Gail’s secrets to igniting your board’s passion, changing their mindset about fundraising and setting them to work in easy roles that will directly impact the bottom line.

Read on for more information and to register…

Make every day a campaign day

Top 10 reasons why a “campaign mentality” will boost your overall fundraising program

campaign mentality (kamˈpān menˈtalədē) – noun A constant mindset and approach to fundraising that includes heightened communication, focused goals, intentional donor cultivation, powerful case stories and active board engagement fueled by a sense of urgency and purpose.

…In other words, acting like you are always in a campaign, even when you are not.

How does this apply to you?