5 Ways to Improve Your Fundraising Now.

Excellent fundraisers, as well as average ones often find themselves reaching a plateau when it comes to their fundraising abilities and the dollar amounts that they raise.  On a plateau, it is just as easy to move upward as it is to slip backwards; losing progress. Fundraisers are only interested in moving in one direction; upward.

pla•teau (plæˈtoʊ; esp. Brit. ˈplæt oʊ) 
n., pl. -teaus, -teaux (-ˈtoʊz, -toʊz) 
v. -teaued, -teau•ing. n.1. a land area having a relatively level surface considerably raised above adjoining land on at least one side.
2. a period or state of little or no growth or decline, esp. one in which increase or progress ceases: to reach a plateau in one's career.v.i.3. to reach a state or level of little or no growth or decline; stabilize

Definitions #2 and #3 have the most significance in fundraising, but definition #1 can be a useful visualization tool.

So how do we get beyond the fundraising plateau?

1. Go back to basics. Find something in your fundraising routine that can be improved and work on it. Can your greeting be made more friendly? Can your donation requests be tightened up? What ever it is, work on it. Working on any one issue has the added benefit of providing new perspectives on other issues.
2. Ask the donor. Ask donors, whether, they give or not, what they thought of your performance. Most will provide at least one useful bit of information. Some donors will provide so much valuable criticism that you may find yourself reexamining your entire fundraising strategy.
3. Ask another fundraiser. Sometimes we let shyness, pride or professional competition get in the way of improving our skills. Every fundraiser, at every stage, goes through the plateau problem. Reach out to your fellow fundraisers and get their advice.
4. Become an expert. Often after fundraising for a certain cause for a long time, fundraisers began to feel like experts on the issue. There is always more to learn. Find books magazine articles and any other materials that you can. The more you know about your issue, the better you can fund raise for it.
5. Remember, Plateaus aren't permanent. Keep slugging away, doing the best job that you possibly can. Eventually, you will begin to see some progress.

These are just a few of the ways to overcome getting into a rut. Actually the only limitations to becoming a better fundraiser are your imagination and the amount of effort that you are willing to put into improving. Remember, plateau or not, there is always room for improvement.

The Future of Fundraising is Local.

With the economy finally starting to gain some traction, few people are thinking about those whom society is le aving behind. These are the working poor, the sick and the elderly. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, we will see more soldiers and their families in need.

Sometimes fundraising calls for a national effort. The only way to gather money and resources quickly is by calling or mailing into every state for support. This is a proven method of soliciting money. This isn't the case for every fundraising effort however.

There are some issues that could just as well be taken care of locally. Additionally, some causes are actually better served by using local fundraisers. Local has a number of benefits; we'll name a few below.

More of the money goes to the cause.
Some national fundraising companies can take as much as 80% of what they raise for an organization. Millions of dollars are wasted in this way. Local groups just can't afford to pay these prices. A local campaign, whether staffed by volunteers or local professionals, ensures that more of the donated dollars go to work immediately.

No one knows local issues like local people.
Using locals to fund raise means having a team that understands the issue and is passionate about it. The more knowledgeable and interested in an issue a fundraiser is, the more likely they are to secure donations.

As a nation, a number of important issues are affecting Americans;
children going to bed hungry, seniors and veterans not getting the care that they deserve and homelessness are just a few of these issues. What all of these issues all have in common is that they begin and end locally.

We can choose to wait for a solution from Washington, but President Obama's job forces him to look at the big issues, not the small ones. National organizations face similar problems; they have the money and resources, but not the organization to implement relief locally. Local fundraisers raising and spending money locally have an immediate effect on communities.

Bringing the idea of raising money in the community and solving problems locally is one whose time has come. More local groups are starting to see the power of collecting donations at home. As the idea spreads, the benefits will only become greater.

Is it still possible to make money in online fundraising?

The short answer to this question is, yes. While the rules have changed a bit since the early days of raising money online, the necessary elements all still exist in great supply. These are; a large and motivated donor pool, innovative organizations and fundraisers and the technology that brings it all together. This post will cover this complex topic with updates to come. In the mean time, voice your opinion on the relevancy of online fundraising in the comments section below.

The first step to success in online fundraising is the cause. While its possible to raise money for just about anything, what really promotes success is having a well defined mission statement. This is something that resonates with donors quickly. The shorter it takes to express your mission statement, the more likely it is that donors will stick around to learn more about your organization and its needs. This does not necessarily mean that they'll make a contribution, but donors who leave your site out of boredom, frustration or confusion certainly wont be making any.

After a well defined cause, presentation is the next most important element of online fundraising. Donors are quick to leave sites that are'nt easy to navigate. Ideally donors should be able to make an online gift in just one or two steps, the more complicated a donation system is, the less likely donations are to be made. Simple. modern interfaces are the key to increasing online donations.

Quick Rapport Technique.

As most fundraisers know, building rapport with donors keeps them on the phone and listening to your request. Rapport isn't a clever trick; it is a means of showing donors that you are interested in them and that you have at least some small things in common. We build rapport in almost every conversation we have whether on or off of the phone. Building rapport with someone you've just called for the first time can be a little harder, but it is certainly possible.

One simple technique for rapport building is knowing the state nicknames or motto's of the states that you're dialing into. Asking a donor how things are going in the Equality State rather than simply how things are going, makes your question more intimate. Donors really do open up when you take a personal interest in them. Listed below are the state nicknames.

State	Nickname(s)
Alabama (No official nickname)[1]	Cotton Plantation State[2] Cotton State[3] Heart of Dixie[3][4][5] Lizard State[2] Yellowhammer State[3] Camellia State
Alaska	Great Land (previously used on license plates) Land of the Midnight Sun[6] Land of the Noonday Moon[6] The Last Frontier (presently used on license plates)[6][7] Seward's Folly (named after U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward)[6] Seward's Ice Box, Icebergia, Polaria, Walrussia, and Johnson's Polar Bear Garden were satirical names coined by members of theU.S. Congress during debate over the Alaska Purchase[6]
Arizona	Apache State[8] Aztec State[8] Baby State (during the 47 years that Arizona was the newest state in the Union)[8] Copper State[8] Grand Canyon State (currently used on license plates)[8][9] Italy of America[8] Sand Hill State[8] Sunset State[8] Sweetheart State[8] Valentine State (Arizona gained statehood on February 14, 1912)[8]
Arkansas	Bear State[10] Bowie State[10] Hot Springs State[10] Land of Opportunity (former official nickname; previously used on license plates)[10] The Natural State (currently used on license plates)[11][10] Razorback State[10] Toothpick State[10] Wonder State[10] Diamond State
California	El Dorado State The Golden State[12][13] (previously used on license plates) The Land of Sunshine and Opportunity Golden West Grape State Land of Milk and Honey Land of Fruits and Nuts Where Stars Are Buried The Cereal Bowl of the Nation The Eureka State [14] The Bear State (or Republic) The Sunshine State (in disuse) (c.f. FL)
Colorado	Buffalo Plains State[15] (in disuse) Centennial State[16] (previously used on license plates) Colorful Colorado[16] (previously used on license plates) Columbine State[17] Highest State[15] Lead State[15] (in disuse) Mother of Rivers[18] Rocky Mountain Empire[19] Rocky Mountain State[20] (in disuse) Silver State[15] (in disuse; see Nevada) Switzerland of America[21]
Connecticut	Constitution State Nutmeg State Charter Oak State
Delaware	Chemical Capital[22] Corporate Capital (due to the state's business-friendly laws)[22] Diamond State (allusion to the state flag)[22] Blue Hen State or Blue Hen Chicken State[23] The First State[24][22] (Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution; currently used on license plates) Home of Tax Free Shopping[22] New Sweden[22] Peach State[22] Small Wonder[22] Uncle Sam's Pocket Handkerchief[22]
District of Columbia	A Capital City (previously used on license plates) The Federal City The District[citation needed]
Florida	Alligator State[25] Citrus State[citation needed] Everglade State[25] Flower State[25] God's Waiting Room Gulf State[25] Hurricane State[citation needed] La Florida Manatee State[citation needed] Orange State[25] Peninsula State or Peninsular State[23] Sunshine State (currently used on license plates) Tropical State[citation needed]
Georgia	Peach State[26] (previously used on license plates) Cracker State — Along with Florida, Georgia had been called "The Cracker State" in earlier times, perhaps a derogatory term that referred to immigrants, called "crackers," from the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina.[26] See also Atlanta Crackers: Origin of the name Empire State of the South — Refers to economic leadership[26] Yankee-land of the South: Similarly to the above nickname, "Yankee-land of the South" speaks to industrial and economic development in the south. This nickname may be used in a derogatory sense.[26] Goober State — Refers to peanuts, the official state crop.[26]
Hawaii	Aloha State (currently used on license plates)[27] Paradise of the Pacific[27] Pineapple State[27] Rainbow State[28] Youngest State[27]
Idaho	Gem State[29] Gem of the Mountains[30] Little Ida[30] Spud State[31] Potatonia
Illinois[32]	Land of Lincoln[33] (currently used on license plates) Prairie State[33] Corn State[33] Inland Empire State Sucker State (possibly named for a type of fish)[33] Garden of the West[33]
Indiana	Crossroads of America (previously used on license plates) Hoosier State[34] Hospitality State Sunshine State
Iowa	Hawkeye State[35] Land of the Rolling Prairie Tall Corn State
Kansas	America's Bread Basket Sunflower State Wheat State (previously used on license plates) Home of Beautiful Women[36]
Kentucky	Bluegrass State (currently used on license plates)[37] Corn-cracker State (reported in 1881)[23] The Dark and Bloody Ground State (an allusion to battles between the Creek, Shawnee, Chickasaw, and Cherokee tribes)[37] Hemp State[37] Tobacco State[37]
Louisiana	Bayou State (previously used on license plates) Child of the Mississippi Creole State Fisherman's Paradise Holland of America Pelican State Sportsman's Paradise (currently used on license plates) Sugar State
Maine	Vacationland (currently used on license plates) Pine Tree State[38]
Maryland	America in Miniature[39] Chesapeake State[40] Cockade State[40] Crab State[citation needed] Free State[41] Monumental State[40] Old Line State[40] Oyster State[40] Queen State[40] Terrapin State[42]
Massachusetts	Baked Bean State[43] Codfish State (formerly represented on license plates by a codfish) The Bay State[43] The Commonwealth[citation needed] Old Colony State[44] Pilgrim State[43] The Spirit of America (currently used on license plates) Taxachusetts (colloquial)[45][46][47][48][49]
Michigan	The Great Lakes State Mitten State Winter Water Wonderland (previously used on license plates) Wolverine State[23] The World's Motor Capital (previously used on licese plates) America's High Five
Minnesota	Butter Country Gopher State Land of 10,000 Lakes ("10,000 Lakes" currently used on license plates) Land of Lakes Land of Sky-Blue Waters North Star State State of Hockey[50] Vikings State
Mississippi	Hospitality State (previously used on license plates) Magnolia State The South's Warmest Welcome The Birthplace of America's Music (currently being used on license plates)
Missouri	Bullion State Cave State Gateway State Bellwether State Lead State The Great Rivers State Ozark State Show-Me State (currently used on license plates)
Montana	Big Sky Country (currently used on license plates) The Last Best Place[51] Treasure State (previously used on license plates)
Nebraska	Beef State (previously used on license plates) Cornhusker State (previously used on license plates) Tree Planter's State
Nevada	Battle Born State (refers to the fact that Nevada joined the Union during the Civil War) Sagebrush State Silver State (currently used on license plates)
New Hampshire	Granite State[52] Mother of Rivers[52] White Mountain State[52]
New Jersey	Garden State (currently used on license plates) The Crossroads of the Revolution (previously used on license plates) The Tomato State
New Mexico	Cactus State[53] The Colorful State Land of Enchantment[53] (currently used on license plates) Land of Sunshine (predates "Land of Enchantment"; this earlier nickname highlighted the large percentage of sunshine received statewide)[53] New Andalusia[53] The Outer Space State The Tex-Mex State The Spanish State[citation needed]
New York	The Empire State (currently used on license plates)
North Carolina	Old North State[54] Tar Heel State[54] Turpentine State[55] Variety Vacationland[56] Rip Van Winkle State Land of the Sky First in Flight State (currently used on license plates)
North Dakota	Flickertail State Peace Garden State (currently used on license plates) Rough Rider State Sioux State
Ohio	Buckeye State[23] Birthplace of Aviation[57] (currently used on license plates) Mother of Modern Presidents The Heart of it All
Oklahoma	Native America (currently used on license plates) Land of the Red Man Sooner State[58]
Oregon	Beaver State Union State Pacific Wonderland (previously used on license plates)[59] Sunset State
Pennsylvania	Liberty Bell State Independence State Keystone State[23] Quaker State Toll Booth State[60]
Puerto Rico	Isla del Encanto ("Island of Enchantment") Borinquen (name given by indigenous people, the Tainos) [61] The Shining Star of the Caribbean Progress Island [62]
Rhode Island	Little Rhody[23] Ocean State (currently used on license plates)
South Carolina	Palmetto State[23] Sandlapper State Iodine Products State (in disuse)[63][dead link] (previously used on license plates)
South Dakota	Artesian State[64] Blizzard State[64] Coyote State[64] Land of Infinite Variety Mount Rushmore State (officially adopted in 1980 in place of the former nickname of Sunshine State)[64] Sunshine State[64]
Tennessee	Big Bend State (refers to the Tennessee River)[65] Butternut State (refers to the tan color of the uniforms worn by Tennessee soldiers in the American Civil War)[65] Hog and Hominy State[65] The Mother of Southwestern Statesmen[65] Volunteer State[65] (currently used on license plates)
Texas	Friendship State[66] Lone Star State[23][66] (currently used on license plates) Chili State
Utah	Beehive State Mormon State[67] Friendly State (in disuse) (formerly used on license plates)[68] Greatest Snow on Earth (formerly used on all license plates; now an alternate slogan on license plates alongside the state's current tourism slogan, "Life Elevated")
Vermont	Green Mountain State[23] (currently used on license plates)
Virginia	Mother of Presidents The Old Dominion[23] The Commonwealth
Washington	The Evergreen State[69] (currently used on license plates) Apple State
West Virginia	Mountain State (previously used on license plates) Panhandle State
Wisconsin	America's Dairyland (currently used on license plates) Cheese State Badger State
Wyoming	Cowboy State Equality State Park State Forever West (On highway welcome signs)

The same technique can be used with sports teams political officials or virtually and personifying information. Of course the choice of which subject to bring up depends on the donor; people who don't like sports will be unlikely to want to talk about last nights basketball game with you.

This is just one of many rapport building methods. Try to come up with some of your own and leave them in the comments below. Thanks.