Spoiler alert: It’s probably your Board and the word “fundraising” in the same sentence.

Hey Nonprofit Leader—What’s Keeping You Awake at Night?

Welcome back to our noble mission of breaking down that invisible (but deeply fortified) wall between Board members and fundraising. We’ve already unpacked childhood money baggage and busted some big fat fundraising myths. Now it’s time to rip off the Band-Aid and talk about what actually works.

Step Away From the Inbox

Text-to-donate. Email blasts. Sounds modern and efficient, right? Nope. These methods are about as effective as whispering your pitch into a hurricane. Why? They’re cold. Impersonal. And as inviting as a robo-call at dinner time.

If you want to raise real money, the gold standard is still: face-to-face. Yes, that thing that causes panic sweats and sudden urges to alphabetize your spice rack.

But here’s the trick: pair your Board member with the Executive Director (or Development Director). Two humans are less scary than one. Bonus: it makes for a great coffee date. Or lunch. Or happy hour. Fundraising with snacks—what’s not to love?

Snail Mail: Still Sexy (If It’s Personal)

Annual appeals? Necessary. Glamorous? No. Effective? Meh—unless they come with a personal touch. A note. A signature. Maybe even a doodle. When donors feel seen, they’re more likely to open their wallets.

Don’t want to handwrite letters? Try a phone call. Yes, your Board may recoil in horror, but give them a script, a donor list, and some pizza, and suddenly it’s a team-building exercise. Make it a competition. Winner gets a bottle of wine—or eternal glory.

Step Away From the Purchased Mailing Lists

Sure, you can buy a mailing list and pray someone randomly feels moved by your mission. Or you can recognize the truth: people give to people. Not zip codes. Not income brackets. People.

Gala Glamour (And the Real Cost of That Centerpiece)

Ah, the gala. The velvet ropes. The overpriced chicken. You might raise $100K, but what did it cost you? (Spoiler: your staff’s sanity, and probably half your mission time.) Always ask: what’s your CPDR—cost per dollar raised? If it’s more than 25 cents, rethink it.

Social Media = Fundraising Candy

It’s flashy, addictive, and looks good—but you can’t live on it. Social media might grab eyeballs, but it rarely grabs checkbooks. Keep your expectations as realistic as your dog’s chances of winning Westminster.

TL;DR for the Sleep-Deprived Nonprofit Leader

If you want to sleep better at night:

• Skip the email blasts. Go personal.

• Ditch the mailing lists. Use your Board’s actual network.

• Save the gala if it gives you ROI (and joy).

• Remind your Board that fundraising isn’t about money—it’s about relationships.

• Add snacks. Always add snacks.

Next week, we’ll spill the beans on which nonprofit sectors are raising money like pros—and what the rest of us can shamelessly steal from them.

Until then, sweet dreams (hopefully).