The Power of Building Key Relationships for Nonprofit Fundraising

Jason Lewis, an expert nonprofit fundraiser and author of The War for Fundraising Talent and How Small Shops Can Win, joined me for a discussion about his insights from the book.

Jason encourages nonprofits to build real relationships with donors who can give significant amounts of money, sharing a story of a career highlight when he mentored a small nonprofit that had established a weak relationship with a big donor and was on the brink of losing her.

With his help, the nonprofit was successful in strengthening the relationship and in obtaining additional funds to support its mission.

Read on and tune in to the interview in the video and audio players above to get the rest of Jason’s insights.

Interview with Jason Lewis, the Owner of Lewis Fundraising.

The following is the pre-interview with Jason Lewis. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.

Expert Tips:

Tip 1: At Lewis Fundraising, we want to ensure that organizational leaders share a common understanding of highly-effective fundraising practice in advance of any permanent hiring decisions. This means aligning the board, volunteers, ED, and non-fundraising employees with an understanding of their roles and responsibilities in fundraising, where and how they can make the greatest contributions, and where they can complement the strengths of others.

Tip 2: Increasing fundraising capacity requires that organizational leaders be able to discern between trivial, meaningful and significant levels of giving. The organization’s fundraising philosophy must be informed by a commitment to fewer donors, more meaningful engagement, and direct solicitation. These three deliberate practices are the foundation of a highly effective successful fundraising program.

Tip 3: At Lewis Fundraising, we want to ensure our client’s ability to identify, train, and retain high-capacity fundraising talent. This begins with understanding the type of individual that will best serve in this role; clearly articulating their goals and objectives; and providing consistent, constructive feedback.

Jason’s Book: https://amzn.to/2XTHf4s

Jason Lewis’s bio:

Twitter: @theGenerousLife

Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/jasonlewis

Facebook: Facebook.com/lewisfundraising

Website: Lewisfundraising.com

Jason Lewis.

Jason Lewis, CFRE & AFP Master Trainer, provides the sector with an often needed contrarian voice, willing to question deeply ingrained beliefs and assumptions of how effective fundraising really works. Whether writing or speaking, Jason challenges the prevailing wisdom about effective fundraising practices, hiring decisions, and donor behavior.

Jason’s first book, The War for Fundraising Talent, is an honest yet hopeful critique of professional fundraising, intended especially for small shops that find it difficult to consistently achieve their fundraising goals. These organizations are notorious for rapid turnover and high donor attrition which are merely side effects of a much larger problem.

Jason is the host of The Fundraising Talent Podcast. Every week, Jason and his guest have an honest conversation about what it means to be a fundraising professional. The podcast provides listeners with a better understanding of what it means to be in one of the sector’s critically important yet least understood roles.

Jason is the creator of The Fundraising Talent Toolbox, introduced in the conclusion of The War for Fundraising Talent, which consists of four planning models designed to ensure that nonprofit organizations can align their board, professional staff and volunteers around a shared understanding of how effective fundraising really works.

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