Does Your Nonprofit’s Donor Communications Sound Like a Wookie Revolt?
Craft Your Communications Plan to Avoid the Revolt If you didn’t know by reading the headline, I’m a Star Wars fan. Yes, I’m old enough to have seen the original films in the theater. So it’s no surprise that I married a man who has Chewbacca as his text tone. An...
Why Plan Your Fundraising for 2020?
“ A goal without a plan is just a wish.”- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Do you have goals? Maybe your goal is, we need funding. Your response, let’s raise money! You feel like you are on an endless loop. I worked with an executive director once that felt that way. To make...
The Hard Truths of Starting Your Nonprofit
“I have my 501 c 3! Now what?” the conversation began. It always begins that way. When a Founder has started a nonprofit but isn't equipped to move forward, we walk through where they are and where they want to go. In my time walking through the question, I...
Fundraising Strategies to Avoid When You Are New
I’ve seen organizations say – we are just going to hope the funding comes. It’s kind of a field of dreams attitude, if we build it, funding will come. Unfortunately, fundraising doesn’t come without a plan and working the plan.
Why do new Nonprofits fail?
50% of all Nonprofits fail in the first year. The top reasons cited are 1) lack of infrastructure and 2) lack of funding. Years ago, I was on a new nonprofit’s working board in their first year of operation. I felt the overwhelm of everything that I knew...
How to Tame the Overwhelm for New Nonprofit Leaders
Overwhelm is everywhere. Founders I’ve spoken to often talked about the overwhelm they feel. They are under pressure from their day jobs, their families, their social life, and in the other spaces of time they are getting their nonprofit off the ground. Executive...
Six Essential Tools to Make a New Nonprofits’ Life Easier
When you start a nonprofit it is confusing and overwhelming. There is so much to do and it all feels like it has to be done right now. I have six tools you can use to help you get organized, clear the confusion, and take away the overwhelm.
My Secret Formula to Fundraising Success
I know this formula probably seems extremely simple but you would be surprised how hard it actually is to put to practice. The one thing I do know is when you spend the time to put this formula into action, funding comes.
Why Should You Write a Fundraising Letter?
After many years in the business, I am convinced that your funding is in your list. This is the most direct way to reach and ask that list for funding. If you have any donors at all, now is the time.
How Restricted Funds Factor Into Your Fundraising Letter
I think the first thing you have to understand is that any time you ask a donor to give for a specific purpose, the funds given must be used for that purpose. That is called restricted funds. Unrestricted funds are the opposite. They can be used for any expense – including salaries. When we write our fundraising letters, fundraising professionals know that giving for a specific purpose raises more money. This often leaves us with a dilemma – what if we raised more than we need for the purpose?
Steps to Success
A Simple Plan
About Me
Hi!
I’m Alesha.
I teach new and small nonprofit leaders how to raise funds so that they can transform the lives of the people they want to serve. I help them set foundations that get them ready for grants and donations. I walk you through sound fundraising practices- action step by action step- to alleviate the overwhelm and make you productive and successfully following your passion for helping people.
I also help the overwhelm by taking fundraising tasks off of your plate. 