A Special Appeal allows your organization to invite donors with a specific, timely, and important reason to consider an additional gift. New donors will appreciate the specificity of the request. Many of your regular donors will get excited about the appeal and take part. In this series, GSB Partner Pete Reuss walks through four steps fo special appeals.

It’s easy for organizations to fall into the trap that inviting gifts only happens on specific dates on a calendar. For congregations, it’s typically in the fall. For other non-profits, it’s the end of the year. A solid year-round plan for generosity, building on an annual appeal and end-of-year, leads to lasting results.

Leading and thriving in a non-profit organization can be both rewarding and challenging, especially during times of success and times of uncertainty. Whether it is navigating through times of abundance or grappling with a crisis or adversity, non-profit leaders must possess the skills and qualities necessary to guide their organizations and establish a sustainable impact effectively.

A well-conceived and aggressively conducted capital campaign will be an exciting and energizing event in the life of your organization. What will it take to complete a successful capital campaign and meet the campaign financial goal? A great “case,” smart work, active committed leadership together with committed and generous donors.

A successful and sustainable fundraising program is dependent on strong, committed and generous volunteer leadership and engagement and contributions. But that cannot happen without the effective leadership of capable, professional staff leadership.

Building a Donor First culture is critical to the success of any annual fund work, capital campaign, or planned giving effort. If donors feel you are only ever after a withdrawal, they will withdraw from the ministry or agency. Learn how to tell the difference between a deposit into your donor relationship before asking for a withdrawal.

Build a strong planned giving program with the core components.

In this video, learn how small donor cottage meetings can set the stage for new major donor cultivation and solicitation. We review the agenda, logistics and follow up to make your event successful.

Any fundraising effort must include comprehensive follow-up. A donor may choose not to participate in your campaign or appeal, but it is your job to invite them to be generous and to get a decision. Learn how to conduct proper and thorough follow-up in this video.

Recruiting, stewarding and retaining volunteers is critical to a healthy nonprofit or ministry. Volunteers provide needed human resources, advocate for your mission in the community, and can become some of your most generous donors. Learn how to engage, encourage and excite volunteers for your organization.

When stewardship best practices lead to conflict and anxiety, something in the congregation’s culture around money is the cause. The Adaptive Leadership framework can provide a lens that leads to lasting change.

If you are considering a capital appeal or other special appeal, this video will help you think about some critical items to keep in mind. We need to work hard to keep a campaign from feeling like we just want a financial transaction. Furthermore, we don't want anyone to feel shame that their gift is not enough. A campaign done well results in people feeling that this is a project that is accomplished because everyone does their part. A solid case for support is where it all begins.

We have all been there. The finance report is dire and so the leader is directed to send out "the letter". This scarcity minded tactic results in a little bump in giving, but longer term leaves people wondering about the long-term health of the organization. Larger potential donors are left wondering if the organization can handle larger gifts. Donors who increased their giving recently feel like they are alone in doing so. There is a better way.

Most non-profits and churches spend the majority of their time telling people what they do. They spend little time telling people the stories of impact of their organizations. The reality is that donors will not unleash their generosity because of what you do. They will do so when they get immersed in the results of your mission. This is not sharing statistics. It is telling stories.

In many congregations, the culture is one of secrecy around money. There is a celebration that only one person knows what people give. Sometimes, pastors are told they aren't allowed to know. Other times, pastors are uncomfortable and don't want to know what people give. In Matthew 6.21 Jesus says that giving is a matter of the heart. In addition to giving being a spiritual issue, there is also a leadership issue in that it is impossible to lead an organization if you don't know where the resources are coming from. This video attempts to get movement from a culture of secrecy to a culture of generosity. Confidentiality is very much lifted up, just not secrecy.

From time to time in the congregation, special gift appeals are needed. This isn't quite the level of a full capital campaign. Many fail of these appeals fail because not enough people participate. This video overviews the basics of a strong appeal.

Follow our animated short about Stu. Today Stu confronts the need to give during the time of pandemic or other time of uncertainty. This resource is suggested for sharing with members of the congregation.

Follow our animated short character Stu as he realizes that inflation and a loss of donors need to be considered as part of the reason to give more each year.

When equipped effectively, Board members can be an organization's most enthusiastic partners. Your current approach may be underutilizing their potential. Learn how to position your board members and the organization for greater impact.

Strong Annual Funds aren't based on one-time (i.e., "annual") appeals. Instead, a healthy annual fund is a year-long (i.e., "annual") series of communications which inform, inspire, ask, and thank funding partners. Move beyond the one-and-done approach with a framework of Who, When, Why, and How you'll engage supporters to ensure your fundraising efforts are effective.