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From Scratch Fundraising Crafting nonprofit strategies that lead to happier donors, stronger management, and explosive growth.

10/02/2026

Ever feel like your day gets eaten up by urgent tasks? 😩

Let’s talk about time boxing!

This technique assigns a specific, protected chunk of time to a single task, ensuring that important but not urgent tasks get the attention they deserve.

When chaos hits, you won’t be scrambling to find the important work underneath everything.

Here’s how to do it:
1. Pick a task that’s important but often pushed aside.
2. Give it a real slot on your calendar—treat it like a meeting!
3. Nothing should push it off unless it’s a genuine emergency. If you wouldn’t cancel a meeting with your board chair for it, don’t cancel this time block!
4. Finally, just do it! Hold that time, turn off notifications, and close your inbox.

This mindset is crucial because it’s not just about managing time; it’s about honoring your mission.

Have you tried time boxing? What tasks do you need to prioritize? Share your thoughts below!

09/25/2026

Fundraising knowledge is gate-kept by jargon that you have to learn in order to navigate and learn best practice.

But in the nonprofit industry, there are so many small organizations that don't have time for that nonsense. They are serving an urgent need in their community, and they need the information NOW on how to fundraise better.

One of the words that really grinds my gears is "stewardship" - and yes, I use it too because it is the right term. But a lot of small nonprofit leaders I speak with, that don't have time to unpack what "stewardship" really means, think it means "send a thank you note."

Stewardship is so much more than that, and when you unlock the true meaning of stewardship, your fundraising transforms.

That's what I'm doing this week on the podcast. I'm unpacking what the term means and how to do it well. And I do it in under 9 minutes.

https://fromscratch.riverside.com/

Stewardship got you stymied? This is the podcast episode for you!

09/18/2026

Are we stuck in a transactional mindset when it comes to fundraising? 🤔

Many organizations believe that to get donations, donors must receive something in return. This transactional approach can limit our potential to build genuine relationships with our supporters.

Instead of viewing ticket sales as mere donations, let's shift our perspective.

Here are some thoughts to consider:

- **Focus on relationships**: Building connections with donors can lead to more sustainable support.
- **Value beyond transactions**: What if we emphasized the impact of their contributions rather than just the perks?
- **Engagement over exchange**: Encourage donors to feel part of a community, not just a transaction.

By moving away from a transactional mindset, we can foster deeper connections and create a more engaged community around our mission.

What are your thoughts on this? How can we shift our approach to fundraising? Share your ideas below!

09/11/2026

Ever wonder if a donor is ready to be asked for a gift? 🤔

The truth is, if you're asking that question, the answer is probably no.

Donors don’t just magically get ready to give; it’s our job to help them get there!

My number one tip for securing more major donor gifts: Start engaging with the donors you believe have the capacity and interest.

Building a genuine connection is key. The more you interact, the more you’ll understand their readiness to contribute.

Let’s foster those relationships and create a community of support!

What strategies have you found effective in connecting with donors? Share your thoughts below!

08/21/2026

This week on the Fridays 4 Fundraising podcast, I'm coming at you with something slightly different: a mindset shift around your donor updates.

If you think you need something polished—a jam-packed quarterly newsletter or a super impressive update—think again. I'm telling you some stories about my clients who shifted from feeling the need to put out something polished and impressive to something much more authentic, genuine, and honest.

What happened? Head over to the pod to find out: https://fromscratch.riverside.com/

08/14/2026

Nobody wants to sign up for your nonprofit newsletter.

Stick with me. I'm not being mean.

But if your move when you meet someone new is to ask them "do you want to sign up for our newsletter?" they're going to say no. (Full disclosure, I love nonprofits and I RARELY sign up for nonprofit newsletters).

What will I (and have I) signed up for? A guide to identifying the birds in my backyard. A guide for primary care doctors for the rare disease I have. A parent manual on managing screen time. A "know your rights" pamphlet for people attending a protest.

These are things that show me I'll get value out of being on an email list. Your newsletter promising "updates" and "funding opportunities." Hard pass...I get enough emails every day. If that's your opening act, I don't want to see Act 2.

How could you re-think how you grow your email list? That's what I'm tackling this week on the podcast. https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/subscribe

08/07/2026

The August fundraising slowdown is upon us (at least here in the DC region...everyone gets out of here because of the heat, humidity, and Congress being on recess).

What do I do with the slowdown? I enjoy a little chill time and clean up my donor CRM. (Yes, I'm a nerd...)

Here's how I attack CRM clean ups. If you've thought "our CRM is too far gone, that's too big a project," check out this video and see if it feels more doable.

More on the podcast if you want to dive deeper: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/subscribe

07/31/2026

Ever thought about how a simple thank you can transform a relationship? 🤔

Bring the power of a simple thank you to your donor relationships by reaching out to donors with a thank you call.

Start with your 10 most recent donors.

But here’s the game-changer: moving forward, call every donor by the Friday after they give. It might sound tough, but for most small nonprofits, it can be done in an hour or less each week. And this is the hands-down most transformational thing I've seen my clients implement to change their fundraising outcomes...more than campaigns, major gifts asks, and more!

I did this every week as a frontline fundraiser, and it was my favorite part of the job. Give it a try and see what happens when you thank those who have supported you recently! 🙌

07/24/2026

Feeling like your event attendance is dwindling? 😟

I recently shared a game-changing tip with a client who was panicking over low RSVPs for a donor stewardship event. In just one week, they saw record RSVPs! 🎉

The secret? Using mail merge instead of a email marketing tool to send those targetted invites! This simple trick can transform your outreach and boost engagement.

This doesn't mean abandon your email marketing platform and move everything to mail merge (that's called spamming...you HAVE to allow people to unsubscribe from your nonprofit's emails). However, using mail merge for key, important communications with your donors can ensure they see things like event invitations and key wins.

This week on the pod, I share a number of ways my clients have used this in ways that delighted their donors and built important relationships.

Listen in now! https://fromscratch.riverside.com/

Have you tried mail merge before? Let me know your thoughts!

07/17/2026

Are you keeping track of your donors? 🤔

If you have the ability, look at the LYBUNT every single month and reach out to donors right after they lapse. If they gave in April last year, connect with them now, not next January!

Here are some simple steps you can take:

- Your CRM likely has a LYBUNT report. Pull it and schedule it to auto-send to you at the end of every month.
- Check what your donor gave last year and what campaigns they supported.
- If they didn’t give this year, reach out!

Say something like, "Hey, I noticed you didn't give to our spring campaign. Every donor matters to us, and I wanted to find out why you didn't renew your support. Are you open to having that conversation with me?"

Often, it’s just that they were busy and forgot. Let’s make sure we’re engaging with our community!

What strategies do you use to reconnect with lapsed donors? Share your thoughts below!

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