Thread Journal
The REAL secret to successful fundraising
In our experience, when nonprofits fall down in their fundraising, it’s often a function of poor operations. In their eagerness to raise the dollars needed to make their budgets, they don’t take the time to properly set their systems and train their people.
Loree Lipstein
February 26, 2021Expanding the Definition of Successful Fundraising: Elevating DEI
We need to talk about a donor’s/funder’s connection to the community, the collective. The work that we do is not only made possible by donors; it’s made possible by a full-on community of staff, partners, other funders, volunteers, board members,
Loree Lipstein
January 14, 2021What We’re Trying to Do Better: Thread’s New Actions for DEI in Fundraising
Over the past year, Thread has seen one conversation finally begin to get the serious consideration it has long deserved but not gotten: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in fundraising specifically.
Included in the job responsibilities of a fundraising consultant is the expectation to stay current on the conversations,
Loree Lipstein
January 13, 2021A Cup of Gratitude
In a year like 2020, it’s been the determination and good humor of our Spool that has inspired us to do more and be better.
Join us as we pass around our gratitude for everyone who made 2020 memorable in all the good ways.
Loree Lipstein
January 12, 2021A Thread Thanksgiving
At Thread, we are also thankful for sew much! With that very on-brand giggle now out of our system we offer this message of thanks.
On behalf of the entire Thread team, thank you for being an important member of our Spool.
Loree Lipstein
December 1, 2020Who Do You Want To Be?
When you sit down to write, rather than asking, “What will make people give to us?” you should ask, “What are people saying about themselves when they give to us?”
Thread: What was this certification course and why did you want to take it?
Loree Lipstein
October 7, 20204 Tactics for Refreshing Your Gen Ops Grants
The rub about writing general operating support grants, especially to loyal, repeat funders year after year, is that they cover the essentials of your organization, and the essentials of your organization don’t typically change very much year to year.
So how do you write a general operating support proposal that sounds refreshed when the bulk of your content is stable and evergreen to your nonprofit’s mission and work?
Loree Lipstein
October 5, 2020Cheers to Doing the Work
The value of an anniversary is in creating a communal opportunity to pause and recall all the experiences and change that have happened since the last moment of reflection.
Way back in February,
Loree Lipstein
September 24, 2020Analysis and Adaptation: Executing Strong Fundraising Campaigns
Do a debrief after each campaign to assess what is working well (and should continue as is) and what needs tweaking.
Thread: The DC Bar Foundation executes multiple unique fundraising campaigns annually. What balance do you try to strike between refreshing your campaigns while also not totally reinventing the wheel each year?
Loree Lipstein
July 20, 2020Segmenting: Your Superpower of Choice this Year
There is so much community need competing for attention this year that personalization needs to be your most important priority for the 2020 EOY giving season
A common joke to emerge from living in a pandemic is that no one knows what day it is anymore.
