Chris Maddocks

📈 Modules 3 & 4: Elevate the Donor Experience In the Fundamentals of Donor Relations course, we go beyond “checking the box.” These two modules focus on delivering strategy-driven engagement: 🔹 Stewardship Reports — Learn what makes reports donor-centric, compelling, and actionable 🔹 Donor Recognition — Build scalable, equitable strategies that align with your organization’s goals You’ll walk away with sample reports, recognition planning tools, and tips to tailor your approach across donor levels. 📌 Built by donor relations professionals 📌 Designed for immediate application 📌 4 CFRE education credits available 📥 https://ow.ly/FZil50WsQ27 #ADRPFundamentals #DonorEngagement #DonorRelations #StewardshipReporting #RecognitionStrategy #FundraisingEducation #CFRE #ADRP

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📈 Modules 3 & 4: Elevate the Donor Experience In the Fundamentals of Donor Relations course, we go beyond “checking the box.” These two modules focus on delivering strategy-driven engagement: 🔹 Stewardship Reports — Learn what makes reports donor-centric, compelling, and actionable 🔹 Donor Recognition — Build scalable, equitable strategies that align with your organization’s goals You’ll walk away with sample reports, recognition planning tools, and tips to tailor your approach across donor levels. 📌 Built by donor relations professionals 📌 Designed for immediate application 📌 4 CFRE education credits available 📥 https://ow.ly/FZil50WsQ27 #ADRPFundamentals #DonorEngagement #DonorRelations #StewardshipReporting #RecognitionStrategy #FundraisingEducation #CFRE #ADRP

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What if your organization had a teammate who could help you save time, uncover donor insights, and strengthen outreach? 🤔 AI is a powerful tool for fundraising teams, and our free guide shows you how to put it to work. You’ll learn practical ways to use AI for donor screening, personalized outreach, and more—plus how to build a responsible strategy that supports your mission. 👉 Download your free copy and see how AI can help your team work smarter and do more good: https://hubs.la/Q045SW0q0

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Email and text messaging shouldn’t operate in silos — especially in digital fundraising. When thoughtfully integrated, email can provide depth and storytelling, while text reinforces urgency and drives timely action. This article outlines practical strategies for aligning both channels to strengthen donor engagement and improve campaign performance. If your organization is refining its digital outreach strategy, this is a valuable read. 👉 Explore the full article: https://lnkd.in/eUHE5TUC #NonprofitFundraising #DigitalStrategy #EmailMarketing #SMSMarketing #DonorEngagement #Fundraising #TateConsults

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Is "Free" Fundraising Sabotaging Your Donor Trust? 🤯 Platforms promoting 0% fees often rely on hidden tipping models and can restrict your donor data. This lack of transparency damages vital relationships. Discover the crucial ethical questions nonprofits must ask before choosing a platform, and why prioritizing data control and transparency is key to sustainable growth. Learn how to protect your mission on our blog: ~ https://lnkd.in/gJAkqNxK #NonprofitCRM #FundraisingPlatforms #DonorData #Transparency #AhaApps #CRM #AhaImpact

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A very helpful guide, especially for those feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of developing an RFP from scratch - it's all right here!

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Donor surveys aren’t just tools for gathering data; they’re opportunities to connect and build trust. Learn how to design surveys that engage supporters and spark meaningful insights. Menaka Chandurkar, director of strategy, shares practical tips for creating surveys that truly matter. https://lnkd.in/ezUudhW7

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With more data available than ever before, organizations have become remarkably good at tracking donor behavior. But behavior and motivation aren't the same thing. Understanding motivation creates pattern recognition across portfolios, themes that shape appeals, and insights that align donor stories with institutional priorities. Through ongoing conversations, Virtual Engagement Officers (VEOs) surface donors why: •The alum whose professor changed their trajectory •The parent who wants their child to have the same opportunities •The niece that received life changing care Autonomous Fundraising transforms transactional donors into mission-aligned partners. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/enpe7iqM

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Planning ahead for year-end fundraising? Start early, engage strategically, and focus on retention. Learn how to personalize outreach, set clear goals, and build lasting donor relationships. Get practical insights and tools to elevate your year-end efforts! 👉 Read the full guide now. Link in the comments! #NonprofitFundraising #DonorRetention #YearEndCampaign #NonprofitGrowth #HelpYouSponsor

Shout out my colleague Lauren Johnson, who contributed to this powerful new publication from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO). As our Social Venture Partners International network has recently adopted new Affiliate Principles that explicitly call us to move from transactional to transformational philanthropy, these questions especially resonate: What role do boards play in transforming philanthropic culture and practice? And what becomes possible when boards and staff are willing to name, examine, and actively shift power dynamics? This report, Toward Meaningful, Valuable, Equitable Governance, doesn’t just offer theory. It surfaces real, actionable examples of what values-aligned governance can look like in practice. I’m particularly proud to see Social Venture Partners Portland featured for how they’ve evolved their governance to more fully reflect their mission and commitments. Lauren’s contribution brings both clarity and courage to a conversation philanthropy must keep pushing forward. If we’re serious about transformational change, governance can’t be an afterthought. It has to be one of our most powerful levers for trust, accountability, and shared leadership. If you serve on a board, work alongside one, or are reimagining what philanthropy can be, this is a must read. 👉 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gZsrKs-6 #GEO #SVPPortland #SVPI #Philanthropy #TransformationalPhilanthropy #Governance #EquitableLeadership #PowerAndPurpose

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If donors never even hear the phone ring, can we still reach them? iOS 26 and Google Pixel are raising the stakes for fundraisers. In my blog article, I share how to adapt — and why deep relationships may be the only calls that get answered. Get ready for the iOS 26 launch Monday!

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Launching a capital campaign isn’t about announcing a goal. It’s about evaluating your foundation. Before public momentum comes: • Board alignment • Leadership clarity • Donor engagement strategy • Giving capacity analysis • A compelling case for support Strong campaigns are built long before they’re launched. If your organization is considering a major initiative in the next 12–24 months, the most strategic move you can make right now is to assess your readiness. Momentum follows alignment. #CapitalCampaign #NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategy #BoardDevelopment #MajorGifts #CultureOfPhilanthropy #NonprofitGrowth #PhilanthropyBlueprint

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The fundraising pathway for new donor prospects... For major donors: Personal Cultivation -> Solicitation For mid-level donors: Systematic and "Personal-ish" Cultivation -> Solicitation For low-dollar donors: Emotional Introduction + Solicitation -> Systematic Cultivation -> Quick Second Solicitation IYKYK

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Get the latest insights on what is shaping major giving today. Giving USA's new Impact Giving special report brings fundraiser perspectives on how donor motivations, expectations for transparency, and engagement strategies are evolving. This special report is included with a GUSA subscription or available for individual purchase. Explore the report and access the full Giving USA Digital Library today: https://ow.ly/Ufvv50YmqpF

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The distinctions between audience and community for public media has been picking up some traction lately. A. Rima Dael wrote a great piece about it at nfcb.org. Another important distinction — not quite parallel, but in the ballpark — is this blog post making the distinctions between annual leadership gifts and true major gifts. The latter is much more than acquiring a donor who gives at certain dollar level threshold. Recommended reading.

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Insightful read... "The strongest brands don’t just react to values-based pressure; they build resilience into their communications infrastructure. This means: creating clear internal guidelines about which values are non-negotiable versus which can evolve." 

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