top of page
_edited.jpg)


Getting Your Board Ready to Be Asked (Before You Ask Them to Ask Others)
Getting Your Board Ready to Be Asked
Frances Roen
Jan 233 min read


When Your Campaign Loses Steam: A Gentle Reset
the messy middle—the part of the campaign most consultants don’t tell you about.
Frances Roen
Jan 84 min read


What to Do When Your Campaign Timeline Is Unrealistic (But the Board Loves It)
You’re sitting in a board meeting, and someone says it: “So… our goal is to raise this money by next June, right?” Heads nod. People are energized. The timeline sounds bold and inspiring. And in your gut, you know: There is no way. This is one of the most common campaign tensions I see: a timeline that looks great on a slide, but doesn’t match your donor pipeline, internal capacity, or external realities. The good news? You don’t have to choose between being the “no” person a
Frances Roen
Dec 3, 20253 min read


Stop Guessing, Start Co-Creating: A Better Way to Ask
Instead of guessing or telling donors what they want, co-create the gift with them.
Frances Roen
Nov 14, 20254 min read


Three Practical Tips to Engage Your Board in Year-End Giving
Looking for easy ways to engage your board in year-end giving? Try our top 3 ideas!
Frances Roen
Oct 28, 20253 min read


Your First Five Gifts: Why They Matter More Than the Next Fifty
Early campaign gifts don’t just fund your project — they define its spirit. Discover why the first five gifts matter more than the next fifty.
Frances Roen
Oct 17, 20253 min read


The Real Cost of Hiring the Wrong Consultant (or None at All)
Examples of who to hire as a consultant and why.
Frances Roen
Oct 9, 20253 min read


Don’t Wait: How to Engage Your Board *Before* a Capital Campaign Launches
The strongest campaigns start with thoughtful pre-planning, where board members are brought in early and often.
Frances Roen
Oct 2, 20253 min read


Developing Leads Throughout the Life of a Campaign
When a campaign begins, most organizations focus on the donors they already know can make a major gift. That’s natural—you need to test...
Frances Roen
Sep 19, 20252 min read


When They Don’t Call Back: How to Get A “Yes” for Your Feasibility Study Interviews
How to Get A “Yes” for Your Feasibility Study Interviews
Frances Roen
Aug 15, 20253 min read


How to Use Community Ecosystem Insights to Strengthen Campaign Readiness & Case Development
A future-facing lens through community ecosystem forecasting.
Frances Roen
Jul 31, 20253 min read


Your Capital Campaign Needs a Communications Plan
A campaign communications plan is your roadmap for how you’ll keep people informed and inspired throughout your capital campaign journey.
Frances Roen
Jul 18, 20253 min read


Why Supported Feasibility Studies Don’t Require More Capacity—They Build It
When nonprofits consider a supported feasibility study, one of the first questions they ask is:
“Does this take more of our time?”
Frances Roen
Jun 19, 20252 min read


Sleeper Gifts and Bon Jovi: Why Campaigns Can’t Be Built on a Prayer
Campaigns, like real-world change, require more than “thoughts and prayers.” As much as I love Bon Jovi (and I do), we can't build a fundraising campaign on the expectation of a miracle gift.
Frances Roen
May 30, 20252 min read


What Wealth Screening Can—and Can’t—Tell You
Wealth screening can be a powerful tool for fundraisers but it not the whole story. Here's why.
Frances Roen
May 8, 20252 min read


Mastering Capital Campaigns: Sidestepping Common Mistakes
What are the most common mistakes around capital campaigns? We have listed them here and ways to avoid them.

Francie Nelson
Apr 14, 20253 min read


Capital Campaigns in a Down Economy: Readiness Matters More Than Ever
A tough economy is not the time to gamble on shaky readiness for a capital campaign. Here's how to invest in your fundraising infrastructure
Frances Roen
Apr 9, 20252 min read


Navigating Uncertain Waters: Minnesota’s New Legislative Proposal and Its Impact on Nonprofits
Recent moves by the Minnesota House Committee suggest a significant shift in how nonprofits receive state funding. Here's what that means.

Michael
Mar 30, 20252 min read


Foundations and Donors Can’t (and Won’t) Fill the Government Funding Gap — and What You Can Do About It
Foundations and donors are critical partners for nonprofits, but they simply can’t cover the government funding gap. Here's what you can do.
Frances Roen
Mar 25, 20253 min read


Capital Campaign Costs vs. Project Costs: Budgeting for Success
Embarking on a campaign, the excitement is often centered on the project, but if you don’t budget for the campaign itself, you risk failure.
Frances Roen
Mar 3, 20254 min read
bottom of page