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.

Donors v. Investors: 5 Differences You Need to Know

Over 20 years ago, the idea of discussing “investors” and “return on investment” in relation to nonprofit organizations seemed preposterous. Today, however, it is not uncommon to hear both terms used widely throughout the sector.

3 Steps to Become Less Reliant on Government Funding

Moving Your Nonprofit Away From Government Funding Many nonprofit organizations have been solely dependent on government funding for so long that the idea of pursuing private sector funding can be a bit intimidating. Where do you even begin? I recently had the opportunity to talk about effective fundraising processes at the National Coalition for Homeless […]

The #1 Question Your Feasibility Study Must Answer

Feasibility studies are a critical first step in fundraising. Therefore, crafting them with care is extremely important. They typically are 20 to 30 questions in length and give you an excellent perspective on your organization: how people view the board, the team’s effectiveness, and who in the community should lead the campaign. So, you might […]

Reversing Disastrous Fundraising Trends

As the Donors Churn, an article in the Winter 2016 issue of Advancing Philanthropy, caught my eye for several reasons. One was the use of the word churn, usually reserved for what stockbrokers (remember them?) did to turn an easy commission. Another was the use of the word donor, long eschewed by myself and the other […]

Communicating Your EDO’s Value – Expert Advice from an Economic Development & Site Selection Consultant

During the IEDC Annual Conference in Anchorage, I was honored to participate in the panel session, “Because We’re Worth It: Communicating Your EDO’s Value.” One of my fellow panelists, Allison Larsen, CEcD, is Principal of the successful economic development and site selection consulting firm TadZo. While I am used to discussing the importance of communicating value […]

“Asking Rights” Q&A from the 2014 BoardSource Leadership Forum

By Tom Ralser My 2014 BoardSource Leadership Forum presentation in Washington D.C. surfaced some very good questions. The capacity crowd, after hearing me drone on for over an hour on Outcomes That Increase Funding, asked a few questions that might be of interest to you as well. First, let me share with you the session […]