Author: Tom Ralser

Hundreds of organizations have utilized Tom’s sustainability planning techniques to ensure they can thrive in a tight money environment. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, which provides the framework his Investment-Driven Model™ of fundraising, and led to the development of the Organizational Value Proposition®, which is widely used by corporations, foundations, and individuals as confirmation that the nonprofits in which they invest are truly delivering outcomes with value. His specialty of utilizing for -profit concepts and methods in the nonprofit world has helped nonprofits raise over an estimated $1.1 billion in the 18 years he has worked with them.

Tom’s Takeaways: The Decline of Individual Giving, 2023 Edition

The recent release of the Giving USA 2023 report, widely quoted and the most robust annual review of giving trends by donor and recipient type, showed a decline in individual giving in 2022 of 6.4 percent, or 13.4 percent adjusted for inflation. Alarming? Possibly. Surprising? No. Cause for Pause? I hope so. Why Alarming? Anytime […]

Maximizing Fundraising Potential: The Importance of an Advancement Accelerator for Independent Schools

In the competitive landscape of fundraising, independent schools face unique challenges in cultivating relationships with donors and establishing themselves as credible institutions worth investing in. To navigate these complexities, schools can benefit greatly from an Advancement Accelerator—an in-depth review of their fundraising and advancement strategies, policies, and processes. This integrative process can help school […]

The Downside of the 90/10 Rule in Fundraising

If you’re afraid to look at your 401(k) balances lately, join the club. The stock market has been in a rut (officially called a trading range) for many months now, and your balance is likely to be significantly lower than it was two short years ago. Rising interest rates have been blamed for everything from […]

5 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Nonprofit Resource Development Services

Nonprofit resource development requires significant investments of time and energy from a nonprofit’s staff. As a result, even organizations with large teams may find it challenging to assess and restructure their fundraising infrastructure to maximize their ability to capitalize on existing opportunities and keep pace with changing funder dynamics. The capital campaign consultants at Convergent […]

Year ‘Round Lessons from a Year-End Appeal

In the “Tom’s Takeaways” section of our December newsletter, we shared an end-of-year appeal from one of our clients that really hit a home run. I hope you found the suggestions to be valuable. Now, as we settle into 2023, there’s an important question to ask – How well will you position your outcomes in […]

Inflation is Impacting Charitable Giving–How to Grow Your Nonprofit Anyway

Inflation is impacting charitable giving as people spend more money on necessities like food and gas. Still, Americans have $13 trillion in savings, according to Giving USA–a number that rose during the pandemic. So, is it inflation that decreases charitable giving or fear? Most likely, it’s a combination of both. We find that when fear, […]