Learn More about the Fired-Up Fundraising Insiders Club
Don't Miss Gail on the North Carolina People with William Friday show on UNC-TV Jan 20th and 22nd
Don’t Miss Gail’s Guidestar Webinar: Feb 1

“Fire Up Your Board for Fundraising: Turn Their Passion into Action”

Fundraising isn’t about money, it’s about changing the world!

I help catapult your fundraising strategies and your board to a whole new level. Let’s turn their passion into action – and dollars – for your cause.

  • Consulting – strategic fundraising planning and implementation, major gifts, capital campaigns, feasibility studies, development office audits
  • Training - board education in friendmaking, fundraising, roles and responsibilities
  • Speaking – workshops, seminars, keynotes, presentations

What Keeps My Clients Up at Night and Why Boards are The Biggest Pain Point of All

January 27, 2012

Here’s an interview I did recently for the nonprofitmarketing360 blog. I thought you’d enjoy it! What are the issues that are keeping your clients awake at night? GAIL: I think the economy is just a huge issue. People are worried about whether they can raise the money they need or not. But I’m also seeing…

Read the full article →

3 Key Major Gifts Strategies for 2012

January 20, 2012

We all want more of those major gifts. And we know that major gifts can make or break our organization’s financial future. But major gift donors are changing, just like fundraising is changing. This month my “Fundraising Insiders” members (join us!) are focusing on Trends for 2012. I’m interviewing Margaret Battistelli, editor of Fundraising Success…

Read the full article →

Want to Change the World? Do This First!

January 12, 2012

I bet you made some new year’s resolutions, didn’t you? That’s great! I have an additional resolution to offer you: Take a stand. Just take a stand for what you believe in. Just like that. Draw a line in the sand and say to yourself, “I want to make a difference.” And then say “I…

Read the full article →

2012 New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members

January 6, 2012

It’s that time again – for turning over a new leaf, for reexamining our work and life, for refocusing on what we really want, and for refreshing our commitment to good works. I created a list of  New Year’s resolutions for nonprofit board members last year. It was a wildly popular post – with both…

Read the full article →

How to Throw a Party Everyone Wants to Attend

December 23, 2011

One of my favorite holiday traditions is a really big family party. I mean a big one. Last night I had about 150 people at my house, (can you imagine!) and it was a blast. Somehow over the years, this party has become an institution. My friends tell me that they actually schedule their holiday…

Read the full article →

How to Craft a Killer Thank You Letter

December 16, 2011

You wrote a dynamite year-end appeal. You’re now receiving those badly needed year-end gifts. Now it’s time to write a drop-dead thank you letter. One that will: Assure your nervous donor that she made a wise investment. Make your donor SO VERY HAPPY that she gave to your cause. Make your donor feel like she…

Read the full article →

Mastering the “Soft Skills” of Fundraising

December 9, 2011

Social skills matter. Appearance matters. Graciousness matters. How much do they matter to a master fundraiser? Tons! I gave a brand new presentation on “Mastering the Soft Skills of A Fundraiser: What They Don’t Teach You in Fundraising 101″ last week at the AFP Toronto Fundraising Congress. And it was quite a hit.  Fundraisers, both…

Read the full article →

Top 10 Things Donors Want From Your Web Site in 2011

December 1, 2011

Year-end is coming!  And online gifts will spike up in December. (We hope!) Especially the last two days of the year. Is your web site ready to handle all this attention? And, did you know that most donors check out your web site before they make a gift? And they do this whether they are…

Read the full article →

9 Things I’m Thankful For (YOU’RE on my List!)

November 25, 2011

It’s Thanksgiving here in the US.  It’s a time when we celebrate family, friends, and all the blessings of our world. I rarely talk about myself and my own life here in my blog, but today I’m telling a bit of my personal story. Here’s my list of the blessings that I am so, so…

Read the full article →

Top 10 Ways to Screw Up Your 2011 Year-End Fundraising Campaign

November 18, 2011

There’s nothing more important this fall than your year-end fundraising effort. The next six weeks is the time when many nonprofits receive most of their contributions. And there is so much at stake right now. This year, more than ever, you’ve got to engage donors in your opportunity and ask them to join you –…

Read the full article →

Bad News and Good News about This Year’s Fundraising

November 11, 2011

The latest data on fundraising trends are showing some scary figures – and some optimistic ones too. Did you know that the overall numbers of donors is plummeting? A recent study showed that donor populations have dropped by 21% in the past 5 years. Check out the study by Target Analytics  here. Target says even…

Read the full article →