Welcome! If this sounds like you...
- You are passionate about the work and mission of your nonprofit.
- You're working super hard to bring in funding but never seem to be raising enough money.
- You're losing sleep thinking about asking for donations face-to-face.
- You would love to feel more confident about your fundraising plans and approaches.
- Bottom line, you wish you could raise more money with less hassle!

If any or all of the above sounds like you, I would be honored to help you and your nonprofit succeed!
As a start, you're invited to sign up here to receive a free step-by-step guide, Conquer Your Fear of Asking for Money. You'll also receive fundraising tips each week in your inbox.
By the way, wondering what "arroyo" means? Arroyo (pronounced ah-ROY-oh) means a waterway in an otherwise dry climate. Arroyo serves as a metaphor for raising funds where there's a need - perhaps at your nonprofit?
If you are thinking the most important word in fundraising is “donor” you’re on the right track. The word I have in mind is “you,” as in “you, the donor.”
In the nonprofit world, we talk a lot about donor-centered fundraising. But what does it really mean?
Where to start?
This is a question I hear often when it comes to major gifts. Even if you know the process, the number of tasks involved with major gifts fundraising – from donor research to strategy to scheduling a meeting and many others – it can be an overwhelming list.
I’ve written in the past about how to recruit dynamite volunteers to help with your major gifts fundraising. There is no doubt that the right volunteers can help catapult your fundraising program to the next level!
There is probably only one measure of success for major gift fundraising that your board members and even your Executive Director discuss on a routine basis, and that is: How much money will major gift fundraising bring in?
Last week I received something in the mail that I just HAD to open. And, let me tell you, this does not happen often! If you have ever wondered or worried if your letters, invitations and thank you notes are being read—or even opened!—by your donors, read on for three simple tips to help skyrocket open rates for your mail.
An organization I’m working with is looking to launch a major gifts program. The Executive Director shared that the organization’s board did very little fundraising, which was a point of frustration and concern for the E.D.
You may be spending LOTS of time and energy helping board members prepare to do this. Maybe providing talking points, background info, fundraising training workshops, even an elevator pitch printed on a wallet-sized card they can whip out at a moment’s notice.
I just learned about something called National Volunteer Week – celebrated in April in the U.S. and June in the U.K. and possibly other countries as well. What a great opportunity for a nonprofit organization to recognize and celebrate its volunteers!
After the immense effort required to put on a fundraising event, it is tempting to take a breather after it’s over—maybe a few days off? After all, your donors were steeped in your message at the event so that’s good enough, right?
Wrong! Your donors—especially those who give major gifts at your event—still want to hear from you.
Last week I received an email from a nonprofit organization I support. Let’s call this organization the A SCHOOL. The email was an invitation to attend two upcoming events. While email certainly can be part of successful event campaign efforts, this email fell short in several key ways:
‘Tis the season for galas!
You probably know that galas and other special events can be a heavy lift for any organization, but maybe you haven’t considered ways to maximize benefits beyond the event itself?
With a goal of furthering your major gifts efforts, let’s take a look at these 3 actions related to your next event:
Do you ever find yourself delaying a call or a meeting with a donor because you don’t have your talking points lined up? You don’t have the conversation mapped out so you’re not feeling confident?