Individuals, corporations and foundations all have their own ambitions and concerns when it comes to deciding which nonprofit organizations will earn their financial support. Recognizing and addressing both tonal and messaging nuances are key in all communication, from engagement before the ask to stewardship activities following a gift. This is another reason why professional copywriting is so important for fundraising.
 

This next question sounds simple, but a surprising number of nonprofits find it difficult to answer in detail. What  exactly are you raising money for? Are each one of the programs in your funding priorities fully detailed, with impact projections, budgets and action plans clearly spelled out? Could your fundraising team, with a week’s notice, produce a detailed and compelling proposal to a sophisticated donor for each of your key programs? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it’s worth questioning if your fundraising foundation could use some strengthening. Focal Point has tools and processes to facilitate this planning.
 

But it’s not all about budgets, impact statements and logic models. There is also a personal side to gaining trust and commitment from your prospects.
 

When it comes right down to it, the people who ultimately make funding decisions tend to “own” that commitment. When your prospects and donors talk with their spouses, management committees, or boards, are they able to accurately explain what they are considering investing in? If they can’t, the road to getting the gift is going to be uphill. But if they can, their level of excitement with your program will grow with each person they tell, and they will begin to share your vision of what your program could become with their support. The right program overviews, blog posts, website resources, white papers, and supporting creative assets can help them get to that level of ownership.