Lisa Z. Greer's Blog, page 5

Fundraising Tip of the Week | April 9, 2025

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In fundraising, respect shouldn’t scale with gift size. Every donor—whether they give $10 or $10,000—deserves authentic engagement, clear communication, and a genuine thank-you.

Why? Because today’s “small” donor could be tomorrow’s major supporter. Many of the most committed philanthropists started with modest gifts—they just felt valued enough to stay.

If you're only focusing on the top of you...

It Might be Time to Ditch the Silos, and Increase your Revenue as a Result

A recent article in NonProfit Pro celebrates the increase in revenue that was achieved when the Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries made the courageous decision to “de-silo” their organization. Recognizing that they might be missing an opportunity for growth, the organization decided to move its volunteer department and an area of programming into development, which already included fundraising and marketing. The article goes on to explain how this 130 year old, multi-million dollar nonprofit b...

Fundraising Tip of the Week | March 31, 2025

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A Partnership Is a Two-Way Street.

Too often, fundraising is treated as a one-sided transaction: nonprofits ask, donors give, and the cycle repeats. But the strongest donor relationships are built on partnership, not just giving.

✔️ Keep donors informed—Share the progress their gifts make possible.

✔️ Show them their impact—Use real stories and data, not just thank-you emails.

✔️ Engage beyond the...

Fundraising Tip of the Week | March 25, 2025

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Fundraising Tip of the Week

Great Fundraisers Don’t Just Ask—They Listen.

Fundraising isn’t just about making the ask. It’s about understanding your donors—their motivations, values, and the impact they want to see. When donors feel heard, they feel invested.

Instead of leading with a pitch, start with a conversation:

✔️ Ask why they give.

✔️ Learn what impact resonates most with them.

✔️ Build rela...

March is the Start of Spring, and it's also a Great Time to Talk to your DAF Donors

While traditional fundraising standards tell us that Q4 is when most donors give, a recent CAF America report tells us that 66% of donors give year-round. In addition, a recent report by Alkami Research shows that although Americans give their largest charitable gifts in December, the number of charitable donations doesn’t differ from month to month throughout the year.

Are the December donations happening because of religion, culture, a sense of holiday generosity, an effort to maximize end-of-...

Fundraising Tip of the Week | March 17, 2025

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Fundraising Tip of the Week

If your only communication with donors is a donation request, you’re missing a critical opportunity. Fundraising isn’t just about securing gifts—it’s about building long-term relationships rooted in shared purpose.

✅ Keep donors engaged beyond the ask.

✅ Show them the real impact of their support.

✅ Treat them as partners, not transactions.

When donors feel truly connect...

Fundraising Tip of the Week | March 10, 2025

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Fundraising Tip of the Week

Donors Invest in Impact

Fundraising isn’t just about asking for money; it’s about demonstrating measurable impact. Donors want to know their contributions are making a real difference, not just filling a budget gap.

Instead of focusing solely on fundraising goals (“Help us reach $50K!”), shift the narrative to outcomes:

✔️ “Your $100 provided meals for 10 families this ...

Fundraising Tip of the Week | March 3, 2025

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Fundraising Tip of the Week

Drop the scripted pitches. Speak like a human, not a salesperson.

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Missed Opportunities, and My Late Mother

As some of you know, my Mom passed away a few months ago, at 90 years old. She had been in an assisted living community for the last decade or so, and she was (mostly) coherent and able to walk (with a walker) until just a week or two before she passed. My brother and I were fortunate to be with her until the end.

That’s my “personal” life, but a few days after her passing, my “professional” life kicked in, and had a bit of a revelation.

We were going through her furniture and belongings, and w...

Announcement!

Hi everyone - as our Revolution continues to gain momentum, I wanted to share an update: I’ve added two new channels to the #SavingGiving community (and moved away from one).

Over the years, I’ve loved engaging with so many of you there, but the platform no longer aligns with how I want to foster conversations around relationship-based philanthropy, ethical fundraising, and #SavingGiving.

Social media should be a place for meaningful conversations, transparency, and connection—all things we stand ...