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INSPIRATIONAL TRAINING
Articles, Videos, Podcasts
Keep up with the latest trends with practical and inspirational content about topics like leadership, fundraising, organizational development, board engagement, governance, capacity building, and much, much more. You'll also find content about how to find and work with the best nonprofit board retreat/training facilitator, or the best strategic planning facilitator so your day is a resounding success.
For the podcasts, use your favorite podcast player and search for the title names.
Tom's Blog
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5 Ways to Wow Donors When Thanking Them!
Wow Donors When Thanking Them!
If you want to raise more money, you must keep retention rates high and attrition rates low. One of the simplest—and most powerful—ways to do that is to wow your donors and show genuine appreciation.
Read on to learn five simple, practical ways to do exactly that.
Last-Minute, Year-End Fundraising Tips
Last-Minute, Year-End Fundraising Tips. December is absolute mayhem. People are busy. Malls are packed. Inboxes are overflowing. Attention is scarce.
And yet—this is when most charitable giving happens.
So the question is simple: How do you inspire donors to open their checkbooks now, especially those who haven’t yet made a gift? The answer is focus and simplicity. Learn the tactics now!
Get Your Donors Off the Sidelines and Into the Game. Engage your donors!
Get Your Donors Off the Sidelines and Into the Game. Learn how to engage your donors! Why, they have more than just money to give; they have skills, influence, networks, time, and experience. Learn how to tap into all this now!
The Most Overlooked Growth Opportunity in Your Donor Database (small donors)
Sometimes your smallest donors provide the biggest opportunities. What about an elderly couple who has giving $100 for 20 years . . . they just might be your next legacy givers! Learn more now!
How Understanding Behavior Types Can Dramatically Improve Your Fundraising
Fundraising! 4 Must-Know Tips on Reading People to raise more money. Learn more now!
When it comes to asking for money, donors are not all motivated by the same things. What inspires one donor may completely turn another one off. That’s why understanding behavior types is so powerful.
Why donors are better than grants
6 Benefits Donors Provide That Grants Cannot. Donors can also bring:
Time – volunteering to support programs; Expertise – improving operations, strategy, and systems;
Influence – opening doors and making key community connections;
Advocacy – serving as mission ambassadors in the community; Energy – igniting passion and generosity that inspires others.
No grant can do all of that. Learn more now!
Reduce Donor Attrition and Build Truly Loyal Supporters
Reduce Donor Attrition and Build Truly Loyal Supporters. Did you know that 50% of donors never make a second gift to an organization?
And after that, each year there’s roughly a 30% chance a donor will stop giving altogether. Those are startling attrition rates. Learn how you can build lasting relationships and loyal donors now!
When a Donor Goes Quiet: What to Do?
When a Donor Goes Quiet: What to Do? Here’s what I've learned—and what I want you to remember:
A donor’s willingness to give—and the size of their gift—may have nothing to do with you or your nonprofit.
And everything to do with their life circumstances.
Stuff happens. Find out more about what to do with "quiet" donors now!
Fundraising Framework (#2): What Really Moves Donors to Give
This is Part Two of my discussion on The Super Six—a simple but powerful fundraising framework that helps you focus on what actually influences a donor’s decision to give.
If you missed Part One, be sure to go back and read it first. It lays the foundation. Learn more now!
Fundraising Framework (#1): What Really Moves Donors to Give
Fundraising Framework (#1): What Really Moves Donors to Give.
In this blog—and the next—I want to introduce a fundraising concept I call The Super Six.
It’s a simple but powerful fundraising framework that keeps you focused on the big picture of what actually influences donors to give.
And that matters, because the more clearly you understand—and intentionally address—these influencing factors, the greater the likelihood a donor will say yes.
Learn more now!
Why the “Give or Get” Policy Is Broken—and What to Use Instead
Should You Have a Give or Get Policy?
Many nonprofit boards have "Give and Get" fundraising policies for its board members. But is this an effective policy? In this blog, Tom goes on an informative and entertaining rant about why the Give and Get policy is a failed one, and why the "Give and Help Get" is a better alternative. Learn more now!
Why Forcing Board Members to Ask for Money Is a Terrible Fundraising Strategy
Fundraising: Should Board Members be Required to Raise Money? In the next few minutes, I want you to read about a common—and deeply flawed—fundraising practice: forcing board members to ask people for money.
We’ve all seen it. A give-or-get policy.A fundraising quota.A subtle (or not-so-subtle) push for every board member to “make the ask.”
It sounds reasonable on paper.In practice, it’s a disaster. Learn more about why now!
Why Face-to-Face Fundraising is More Effective than Grants and Galas for Small Nonprofits
Why is Face-to-Face Fundraising is More Effective than Grants and Galas for Small Nonprofits.
Most small nonprofits spend less than 10% of their time raising money in face-to-face settings, yet 65% of all money raised comes from this fundraising channel.
How much time are you spending?
Learn how you can do more face-to-face fundraising now!
When Your Nonprofit Hits an Avalanche Wash (experiences a disaster)
When Your Nonprofit Hits an Avalanche Wash (experiences a disaster).
Hey, bad things happen at nonprofits. So when the avalanche of disaster strikes, it may be a surprise, but if you're strong, you'll survive and may even find that some good comes of it.
Learn how to deal with it here!
The True Value of Volunteers: The Most Underrated Asset in Your Nonprofit
The True Value of Volunteers: The Most Underrated Asset in Your Nonprofit.
When you strip a nonprofit down to its essentials, you’re left with just three things that actually get the work done:
Board members, Staff, Volunteers. That’s it.
And yet, of those three, volunteers are often the most undervalued—and the most powerful—asset a nonprofit has.
Learn how to make them your most valuable asset now!
Why Fundraising is a Lot Like Fly Fishing
Fly Fish for donors! Yes—you should absolutely fish for big donors.
But it’s also just as fun—and just as important—to fish for small donors.
Because small donors have a funny habit of turning into big donors over time.
Step Back and Look at the Big Picture of Your Nonprofit
As a nonprofit, it's easy to get stuck in the weeds because we are managing so many things with so few resources. But just as important as those little details are, it's also important to focus on big picture things too. What are they? Learn more now!
Why Listening to Your Beneficiaries Is the Key to Real Impact
Listen Closely to Your Donors and Clients. Why?
So many times, nonprofits assume they already know what people need. We design programs based on good intentions, past experience, or internal conversations—and then we push those solutions out into the world.
But here’s the truth:
We don’t always know what people need unless we ask them.
And more importantly, unless we listen. Learn more now!
Cloudburst: A Rainmaker’s Guide to Fearless Fundraising and Exceptional Donor Stewardship by Tom Iselin
Tom's New Book on Fundraising -- "Cloudburst."
Why I Wrote Cloudburst .
After decades of building nonprofits, raising tens of millions of dollars, and working alongside boards, staff, and donors of every size, I saw a recurring problem:
Too many good organizations struggle—not because their missions aren’t worthy, but because their fundraising systems are broken, outdated, or fear-driven.
Cloudburst was written to change that.
Learn more now!
Wonder More About Your Wonders
It's been said, "There is no shortage of wonders, just shortage of wonder." We often focus on all the troubling things going on at our nonprofits. Take some time to focus on the good. Learn more now!
Even on the Coldest Days, Learn to Enjoy the Process
Sometimes you’re going to be cold.
Sometimes you might literally have a cold. Sometimes you’re tired. Sometimes you’re run down. Sometimes you’re staring at a full calendar and wondering how you’re going to get through the day.
Yet, you still show up. Why? Learn more now!
That’s real life.That’s real work.
Nonprofit leadership isn’t always inspiring moments and big wins.
It’s Great to Be Back at The Hunger Coalition
The Hunger Coalition -- Fond Memories!
Coming back to The Hunger Coalition feels surreal—in the best way. I can’t believe how much this place has grown.
We used to operate out of the basement of a bank in Ketchum. Now we have a massive warehouse that serves thousands of families across the Wood River Valley. Learn more now!
Improve Work Productivity -- Relax More!
Improve Work Productivity -- Relax More!
I’m not here just to talk about hot springs or cold rivers.
I’m here because I want to encourage you to slow down.
To step away from work.To stop thinking about everything on your to-do list.To take time to relax and reset.
Why? It will help you regain perspective, restore energy, protect your passion, and avoid burnout!
Learn more now!
Take Time to Relax
1:29. Find time out of your busy day to relax. Put away your To-Do list, get out of the office, and do something that will stoke your...
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