Sigler & Co

06/01/2026

A friend of mine gave me this candle that says “A Prayer for Grant Funding.”

If you think it’s a joke candle, you’ve never worked in fundraising.

Because there comes a point in every grant application where you’ve followed every instruction, uploaded seventeen attachments, answered the same question four times in four different ways somehow, and had three people proofread it.

And then you’re just sitting there thinking, “Well… I would like money now.”

At that point, am I above lighting a candle for good luck?

Absolutely not.

I’m not saying this candle works. I’m just saying grant funding is tough, and I’m willing to explore all available channels.

Thanks to my friend with a sense of humor. In fundraising, you take every advantage you can get.

05/26/2026

☀️ REGISTRATION OPEN ☀️

Fundraising works better when board members and staff are working together instead of operating in separate lanes.

This year, our summer fundraising training sessions are focused on helping organizations strengthen teamwork around fundraising while also building healthier donor communication, stronger stewardship, and better fundraising systems overall.

Join Nancy Lamar and myself this July with other organizations dedicated to working together to strengthen our community.

Learn more and register here:
🎟️ https://siglerco.com/fundraising-summer-sessions/

05/01/2026

🌼🧹 Who doesn’t like declutterring?

🗑️ Should you throw these five things out this spring? They may beholding you back from engaging with your donors in a more meaningful way.

Spring Cleaning for Fundraisers by Kenny Sigler | Apr 21, 2026 | Newsletter5 Things to Throw Out This April (That Are Hurting Your Donor Engagement)Good Housekeeping says April is the perfect time to declutter. It’s that sweet spot between the cold winter months and the hot summer ahead.Yes, I rea...

03/26/2026

Happy Opening Day everyone! ⚾️🏟️🇺🇸

03/18/2026

Enjoyed presenting and listening to others at the East Texas Giving Day summit held by the East Texas Communities Foundation.

02/16/2026

Donor engagement is deep work to borrow the term from the author, Cal Newport. Building meaningful relationships takes time and energy to think, plan, and spend focused time with people who you want to connect with. If you're more focused on checking things on your to-do list, it becomes more convenient to assume.

Which is why I love Dawn's latest article

"With donors stretched thin, nonprofits under pressure, and everyone moving faster than they’d like, it’s easier than ever to make assumptions." - Dawn Franks

I shared this story two years ago, and it’s been on my mind again. Not because the giraffe stopped spitting, but because the donor–nonprofit relationship feels even more fragile today. With donors stretched thin, nonprofits under pressure, and everyone moving faster than they’d like, it’s e...

02/11/2026

I honestly felt grateful just to be there today as Bethesda announced the public phase of their campaign and shared what their new clinic home will become.

While I had a small role in this effort, I know most of the real work happened long before a public announcement ever took place. Years of conversations. Building trust. Staying in relationship.

There’s a lot to celebrate today.

And for me, this is such an encouragement and a clear reminder of what can actually happen when an organization truly invests in its donor relationships and treats those relationships as something to build, not something to lean on when money is tight.

This didn’t come from short-term fundraising or quick fixes.
It came from choosing relationships first.

01/26/2026

💡 Are you asking yourself these 3 key questions shared at Nonprofit Idea Fest by Rob Wu?

Are you running reports that lead to donor engagement? Or, just running reports to look at the bottom line?

01/23/2026

💡 Challenging board members?

From Brian Brandt's session...
Turning Bored (😴) Board Members into Ambassadors. 📣

Listen to Brian talk about how turning tasks into challenges could spark engagement from your board.

01/21/2026

💡 "Attention is the most valuable currency."

👀 Attention.

How are you getting it? Where is yours at this week?

📖 2026 could be your year to get the attention you're after through good storytelling.

🫶 It can also be the year you're giving donors the attention they desire through cultivation and stewardship.

🧭 Where do you want your attention focused on this year?