As we move into yet another season filled with uncertainty, we are all having to function under a new fundraising normal. This new normal still relies on the same successful fundraising cycle, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, BUT, it now more than ever before depends on creativity and a combination of virtual and in-person approaches. This… Read more »
Donor Cultivation in the New Fundraising Normal
Creative Donor Cultivation and Stewardship – AND the Future of Fundraising Events Let’s Talk Fundraising – Victoria Dietz and Abbie Hacker share creative ways that our clients are cultivating and stewarding donors using virtual and in-person. With a special section on the future of fundraising events.
Giving USA Spotlight: Relationship Cultivation Using Social Media
As most nonprofits are wrapping up the final week of their annual giving campaign and gearing up for the New Year, we wanted to share some valuable information from the latest edition of the 2011 Giving USA Spotlight series. The third and final issue of the year, entitled, “Relationship Cultivation Using Social Media” offers good… Read more »
Funding Your Mission: From More to Meaningful
At a recent workshop presented in partnership with the Virginia Association of Museums and Virginia Humanities, we convened a panel of leaders representing philanthropy and cultural institutions across Virginia to explore a central question: What distinguishes organizations that consistently inspire philanthropic investment? The conversation, moderated by The Curtis Group’s CEO and Chairman, Keith Curtis, was… Read more »
Five Ways to Make 2026 Your Strongest Fundraising Year Yet
Fundraising Review and Reflections: What Worked in 2025 and What to Change for 2026 By Keith Curtis, Chairman and CEO For nonprofits, 2025 often felt like a test. The philanthropic landscape is undergoing rapid changes, and nonprofits are having to evolve along with it. We saw a lot of emerging trends this past year—charitable giving totals rose,… Read more »
Most Nonprofits Miss Engaging With This Key Donor Demographic–Is Yours Keeping Up?
At The Curtis Group, we’re committed to sharing timely, research-driven insights from trusted leaders across the philanthropic sector. As fellow members of The Giving Institute, we are pleased to feature this guest article from Ali Iqbal, President of TIAA Kaspick, a national leader in planned giving and long-term donor strategy. Middle donors are an increasingly influential—and often… Read more »
FREE Webinar: How to Keep Your Donors Happy — and Giving!
Rethinking Donor Retention: Building Connections in a Changing Landscape Current fundraising trends reveal a challenging paradox: charitable giving is up, but donor counts are down. That means more dollars are coming from fewer donors—raising the stakes for building lasting, trust-based relationships. So how can your organization remain relationship-focused in an increasingly transactional giving environment?… Read more »
Women Give Differently – Is Your Nonprofit Keeping Up?
Women Give Differently: The Unique Role of Women in Philanthropy By Kate Hildebrand Consultant Recently I had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion on the topic of women in philanthropy. It was inspiring to hear from local female leaders on a subject that is important to me personally as a woman in fundraising and one… Read more »
Accelerate Into the Curve: Fundraising Boldly in Uncertain Times
Accelerate Into the Curve: Fundraising Boldly in Uncertain Times By Wendy McGrady Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer As a new driver, the idea of accelerating into a curve was counterintuitive, even scary. Our instinct is to hit the brakes. Now, as veteran drivers, we know that the key to staying in control is to accelerate… Read more »
Webinar: Real Conversations with Major Donors
Free Webinar: Real Conversations with Major Donors Wondering what you could and should be doing today to prepare for a stronger major gift program tomorrow? During these constantly changing times, relationships matter. The fundraising cycle works at developing them–cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship–but what does this cycle look like in practice? Vice President Hilary Fulp… Read more »
