Getting Donors To Give More

In recent years, several well-publicized studies have reported that the rich really are different: they give less. There are exceptions, of course. Where would Santa Barbara nonprofits be without generous donors like Michael Towbes, Paul Orfalea, and many others? Overall, however, the wealthy give a smaller percentage of their income (1.3%) to charity than the middle-class and …

A Beginner’s Guide To Grant-Writing

You hear all kinds of things about grant-writing: There are tons of money being given away! All you have to do is ask! Grant-writing is difficult. It’s incomprehensible, time-consuming, and tedious. Grant-writing is a waste of time! You invest all that effort and don’t get funded. So what’s the truth about grant-writing? The bottom line …

Beyond Grant-Writing: Getting To Know Your Major Donors

Get to know your donors: Ever been to a store that carries just one item, in one color, style, size, or price range? Me neither. That’s because, once a retailer has succeeded in getting you to walk through the door, her next goal is to entice you to buy something—anything—before you walk out. If her …

Top 10 Words That Capture Readers’ Attention

As writers and editors, we know that our word choices are important. Some messages call your readers to action – others not so much. What is it that makes one paragraph soar while others fall flat? According to fictitious studies published some 40 years ago, certain power words capture our attention more than others. Though the studies …