Years ago, I got to spend an evening with ZZ Top. Working for a promotions agency, I partnered with Warner Brothers Records to create a cause-related campaign highlighting their RECYCLER Tour. Save the planet and get to hang with the band. ...
25 January, 2021 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot January 2021 Home 33 Likes
In the summer of 2020, I directed our attention to bright spots in nonprofit fundraising that were taking place in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In conversations with colleagues, partners and our expert team, one thing was clear: even in the midst of unforeseen hurdles, supporting donors have the deep desire to help and they’re committed to doing what they can, when they can. ...
14 January, 2021 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot January 2021 Home 33 Likes
A client recently came to me with this question: Why don’t we just send people age 65+ the direct mail appeals and take anyone under 65 out of the mail program? The question was, of course, predicated on the assumption that only “senior citizens” respond to direct mail, and the belief that people under 65 would be better cultivated through digital channels....
08 January, 2021 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot January 2021 43 Likes
Let’s start with the basics: Data is a collection of raw information including text, numbers, donations, images… and on and on. Bored yet?...
08 January, 2021 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot January 2021 39 Likes
“Are we sending too many emails?” This is a question our digital team gets asked a lot, especially right now. And honestly, we DO send a lot of emails on behalf of our clients between September and December! With Thanksgiving, Christmas, Giving Tuesday and Year End fundraising all happening in this window, the number of emails stacks up quickly...
17 December, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot December 36 Likes
It’s finally December and the whole world has been expectant of 2020 coming to a close. It has, indeed, been a year of unprecedented, challenging times: Uncertainty, worry, anxiety, stress, fear, loss and pain have marked 2020. And yet, 2021 is not quick to promise change. ...
17 December, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot December 47 Likes
Do you believe that you have inspirations that expand beyond the same-old-same-old? Let’s call them… game changers… a new vision for abundance… overdrive realized....
08 December, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot December 39 Likes
Finish this sentence: 2020 has taught me… Perseverance? Patience? Flexibility? Innovation? We learned more this year than we ever could have anticipated. 2020 exposed new trends in the nonprofit industry, revitalized the nation’s spirit of philanthropy and expanded our understanding of ourselves, each other and how we function as a team. ...
03 December, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot December 36 Likes
Right now is the perfect time for nonprofits to think seriously about capacity campaigns. ...
19 November, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot November 42 Likes
What a year it’s been. COVID-19. Quarantine and social distancing. Social unrest. Wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes. A presidential election. And it’s not over yet! ...
12 November, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot November 44 Likes
When you hear the term “Millennials,” what’s the first word that comes to mind? Tech-savvy? Innovative? Entrepreneurial? Community-driven? Adventurous? Or maybe… Entitled? Hypocritical? Arrogant? Lazy? Impatient? There’s a diverse bag of words and images that make up society’s perception of the millennial generation. In turn, it affects how nonprofit fundraisers approach targeting, communicating with and retaining millennial donors....
28 October, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot November 37 Likes
Public perception is often out of your control. Just one situation – negative or positive – can shape your ministry’s reputation for weeks or even months. But after 35 years in public relations, I’ve learned there are a lot of things you CAN control. Let me show you how the 3 P’s of PR can make all the difference!...
26 October, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot October 26 Likes
Here we are! Another busy week packed with streaming video meetings on Zoom, conference calls and the torrential flow of emails. Although leaning into the benefits of connective technologies has allowed my team and me to work safely and productively from our respective remote offices, I’ll admit that at times virtual communication can scramble the brain. ...
13 October, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot October Home 29 Likes
Anyone who knows me at BDI will tell you: I can’t stop talking about Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) lately. And I’m not going to stop anytime soon – in fact, I’m really excited to have this chance to share more about DAFs with you today! ...
08 October, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot October 21 Likes
Authenticity sells. But authenticity online can be a tightrope as a nonprofit. You need to raise funds to support your programs, services and outreach. But at the same time, you don’t want your donors to feel you’re using any tricks on social media in order to get their money. And in our marketing-saturated modern life, they know when they’re being manipulated. ...
24 September, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot September 23 Likes
These days, scroll through your social media feed and you’ll probably see a post where someone declares a destination, restaurant or a product as “on brand” for them. Meaning, this aligns with who I am/what I believe/how I live my life. So let’s redirect to the nonprofit world......
16 September, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot September 13 Likes
BDI is here to help you ride the waves of change! As the summer months come to a close, we look ahead to the coming season of new political, economic, social and philanthropic developments. At this point, you may feel like 2020 is a series of earthquakes and aftershocks......
09 September, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot September 14 Likes
Ahh… certainty. Not easy right now when the world seems to be coming unglued. You don’t want to make a mistake, because the lives and welfare of the hurting people you serve are at stake. But there is a peaceful pathway that awaits. A few principles you can take to heart that will help provide confidence and rest as you navigate raising funds in these stormy seas. And for certain… produce better results....
30 August, 2020 BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot September 10 Likes
Related posts: QUICK SHOT: Overwhelmed by choices in Digital Marketing? QUICK SHOT: Death, Taxes and Donor Attrition The 2 Tips to Develop Recurring Donations QUICK SHOT: 4 Tips For Leaders Facing Difficult Decisions...
BDI Quick Shot August 9 Likes
What we hoped would be a sprint may end up being a marathon. We’ve lived in the midst of the pandemic for many months now. As genuine struggle and the extended disruption of our personal and professional lives continue without a reliable end date in sight, fatigue mounts. All nonprofit......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot August Home 22 Likes
Related posts: QUICK SHOT: Death, Taxes and Donor Attrition QUICK SHOT: What Does a Data Geek Do for Fun? QUICK SHOT: Fundraise Like Your Building is on Fire QUICK SHOT: Innovation During Challenging Times...
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot August 8 Likes
Related posts: QUICK SHOT: Strengthen Donor Relationships During Crisis QUICK SHOT: Have the nation and your donors given up on “Hope”? QUICK SHOT: Death, Taxes and Donor Attrition QUICK SHOT: Fundraise Like Your Building is on Fire...
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot July 47 Likes
Related posts: QUICK SHOT: Death, Taxes and Donor Attrition QUICK SHOT: During a challenging year, how is USPS doing? QUICK SHOT: Innovation During Challenging Times QUICK SHOT: Fundraise Like Your Building is on Fire...
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot July 9 Likes
It has been said that nothing in life is certain… except death and taxes. When it comes to fundraising, there is a third certainty: donor attrition. If there’s one thing we can count on in fundraising it is this – around 30-40% of donors who gave to your organization last......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot July Rhonda Moore 10 Likes
These days, we’re inundated with information. Conflicting news, fluctuating numbers, and opposing opinions are everywhere. Even though this season of isolation may have felt like a digital hurricane of content, there’s a silver lining: People are connecting online more than ever before. This is great news for nonprofits! During times......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot June 30 Likes
In a recent marketing survey, consumers listed “positivity (optimism, hope)” dead last in what they want to hear from companies during the COVID-19 crisis. See: Morning Consult – Brand Management in the COVID-19 Era Has hope really become hopeless as a way of sharing your message? This might be......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot June 10 Likes
As we enter the summer months, here’s a brief update on the United States Postal Service (USPS). It’s been a difficult year for USPS, especially given the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that a majority of nonprofit direct response mailings rely on USPS, it’s important to pay attention......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot June 10 Likes
“If only our building would catch on fire!” I once had a CEO lament to me about a time a local Rescue Mission raised over a million dollars through a fundraising campaign after a fire had destroyed their Mission. While this CEO wasn’t literally wishing for his Mission to burn......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot June 8 Likes
Maybe you’ve noticed… digital marketing has exploded over the last few years! It’s super exciting. But it can also be EXHAUSTING. Even for me… and this is my specialty! So I can only imagine that if you’re relatively new to digital marketing, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Not just by......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot May Stephanie Tippitt 16 Likes
If you’re like me, making difficult decisions is DIFFICULT. And life has a habit of confronting us with difficult decisions. Whom do I marry? Is divorce the only solution? Do we move or not? How do I care for an aging parent? Which bills should I pay first? And the......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot May Phil Stolberg Thought Leaders 12 Likes
“April showers bring May flowers” is an expression I’ve heard since I was a child. Who knew that Thomas Tusser, an English poet and farmer, penned the phrase in the early 1500s! Never has it resounded more clearly for me than this year, living in Southern California, where belated winter......
BDI Quick Shot BDI Quick Shot May Lolly Colombo Thought Leaders 9 Likes