Visionary Fundraising For Nonprofits

In fundraising. When you authentically celebrate even partial success, you often unlock additional giving. It’s like a mountain climbing team sharing their journey story while still on the mountainside - their authentic enthusiasm often attracts unexpected support. What does this kind of celebration look like? To help you, I have put together a couple of "failure" campaign emails that will help you craft your own. CLICK HERE FOR FREE CELEBRATIVE EMAIL SAMPLES Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

I have an acquaintance who loves to put posts on social media about his wife. “She’s hot,” he will say. When I see his posts, I feel awkward. What ought to be beautiful and admirable is instead a little repulsive. He even has a shirt, “I LOVE MY HOT WIFE.” AND a coffee mug: “MY WIFE IS HOTTER THAN MY COFFEE” Most of us find this off putting, but fundraisers do this all the time. Your messaging can make audiences uncomfortable - a common mistake that drives donors away instead of building meaningful connections. Nonprofits do it when they never stop telling us how “hot” their organization is. It is repelling and makes you want to look away. Get fundraising strategy weekly from David's Mentoring Mondays email. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

"I reviewed with each person the factors that motivated their giving. A recurring pattern was the towering gratification they received from making the gift." Jerold Panas, Mega Gifts, Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them. Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

Some of history's greatest fundraisers have never asked people for money. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

"There needs to be a near-militant belief in its mission..." Jerold Panas, Mega Gifts, Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

"History has recorded few truly anonymous gifts. Many benefactors, who pretend anonymity, hide after a conferring a gift - much like Virgil's Galatea. She fled...but only after making certain she had been seen by everyone." Jerold Panas, Mega Gifts, Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

"It is my experience - confirmed by the million dollar givers - that major philanthropy is spontaneous." Jerold Panas, Mega Gifts, Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

"As Harold Seymour put it many years ago, no one ever got milk from a cow by sending a letter." Jerold Panas, Mega Gifts Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

"For many major donors, sophisticated or fancy campaign literature has as much impact as the sound of one hand clapping." Jerold Panas, Mega Gifts, Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

Are you on David's mailing list? Go to davidoaks.net, to the second pane that says: "Lean Into Your Visionary Capacity With David: FREE" and sign up for my Mentoring Monday's email. This puts you on my email list and you will always know where I will be speaking next. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

At weddings, ministers are fond of rehearsing the historical story of Jesus’ first miracle. He attends a wedding where the host runs out of wine. At the insistence of his mother, he turns six stone jars of water into wine. The belief in miracles is a matter of personal faith and varies among individuals and spiritual traditions. Personally, I believe it is a miracle every time someone gives away money they could have spent on themselves! Fundraising is participation in the miraculous! But participating in the miraculous requires an understanding... Miracles Require a Lot of Work Ancient followers of Jesus called it "the working of miracles" You can read the story HERE Solomon's ancient, "the truth will cost you something" Join me with other fundraisers in my monthly Fundraising Accelerator. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

Let me introduce you to my friend Jeff Slaughter. He is a missionary, fundraiser, master storyteller and more. Find Jeff at: https://jeffslaughterwrites.com/ https://elevateeurope.com/ Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

As a fundraising consultant, I’ve encountered countless nonprofits who believe they’re telling compelling stories about their work. But when I look at their websites and social media feeds, I’m often left wondering: Where are the stories? Fundraisers think like news reporters when it comes to telling stories. But nothing could be further from the truth. You are not a news reporter, you are a nonprofit storyteller. There is a huge difference in news reporting and storytelling. What I usually find instead are reports. Updates about events. Statistics about groups served. While this information has its place, it’s not what drives donations. It’s not what connects with donors on an emotional level. It’s not storytelling. The Truth About Fundraising Stories A true fundraising story isn’t about your organization or even about the collective impact you’re making. It’s about one person. One life. One struggle. One transformation. This focus on the individual isn’t just a preference—it’s a proven principle of effective fundraising. Yet it’s one that many organizations struggle to implement consistently. The focus on one, rule is a fundraising principle that’s proven, potent, and practically unbreakable. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

I love Africa and I adore African fundraisers. Your passion, dedication, and tireless efforts to create positive change in your community is truly inspiring. You deserve to get the money you need. There are some things you need to understand about fundraising internationally, especially with Americans. There is sometimes a disconnect between you and your potential American supporters on social media and electronically. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

Naming opportunities are a nonprofit's golden ticket to unlocking major donations. This episode reveals the power of offering naming rights to recognize supporters, plus you'll learn 7 key steps to follow to successfully implement this lucrative fundraising strategy. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

Describing the need is easy compared with the hard work of finding the descriptive words that paint a picture of the need having been met. If there is one thing I find that leaders don't understand, it is the power of vision. Most leaders think they become powerful when they can describe the need. Not so. Describing the need is easy compared to describing the world, like Pastor Wells, where that need would no longer be valid. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

When we fail to recognize and celebrate “firsts,” we miss powerful opportunities to strengthen our relationships, build momentum, and create a positive, thriving culture. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

Your vision and mission statements are more than just words on paper - they’re the heart and soul of your nonprofit, guiding every decision you make and every dollar you raise. Invest in getting them right, and watch your impact soar. Need more help? Get my book, I dedicate a whole chapter, Establish Your Compelling Vision, to this. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

Jewish storytellers celebrate unity and brotherhood by telling a story about pouring huge amounts of expensive oil on the top of one of their leader's heads. Their story corresponds to the "rock in the pond" principle. Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn

One of Dale Carnagie's favorite stories was about fishing. "I love strawberries and cream, but I find for some reason that fish prefer worms." In the same vein, you don't "catch" donors by baiting the hook with what you love... Get David's book Visionary Fundraising at Amazon. Get a digital copy of David's book: Visionary Fundraising today CLICK HERE Special price $5.00 You can connect with David at www.davidoaks.net InstagramLinkedIn