Year-end appeals have been a proven successful fundraising strategy for nonprofits for many years. However, writing and executing effective year-end appeals can be challenging. This guide unlocks five key steps to crafting a year-end appeal that increases engagement...
Meet Andy DeBraber! We are happy to welcome Andy to the Kennari team as a Senior Strategist - after 25 years of successful fund development work in a variety of nonprofit sector roles. His positions have included being an executive director in West Michigan and both a...
If you’re mailing any sort of fundraising appeals, it’s likely that you’ve been asked to segment the mailing list according to your database audience. Segments offer a few benefits, including making your audience feel like you know them and talk to them accordingly...
Meet Daiah Williams! Daiah is pursuing a Masters in Public Administration from Wayne State University. Alongside this she is seeking a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University in Political Science...
Over the next few months, Google and Yahoo email platforms will begin enforcing new requirements for bulk email senders. This is an effort to reduce some of those pesky spam, phishing, and fraudulent email messages that sneak past current filters. Effective February...
It’s easy to forget the simple act of saying thank you. But for donors, a heartfelt expression of gratitude can make all the difference. It fosters a sense of connection, builds loyalty, and paves the way for future support. [Image description: A white card with black...
Meet Clinton Jackson! Clinton is a senior at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, and completes his semester as an intern with Kennari in December 2023. During my time as an intern at Kennari Consulting, I was a part of a variety of different team projects, personal...
We are proud to announce that our founder, Sandi Frost Steensma, will be honored at the 16 Over 60 Awards Gala on November 15, 2023 for her continued contribution to West Michigan and beyond. The 16 Over 60 Awards Gala, hosted by Senior Neighbors, is an...
Often, fundraisers think that cultivation is purely about asking a donor for a specific amount of money. We disagree. The process of cultivation, when successful, means that when you meet with a donor, instead of saying, "We would like you to consider a gift of $X,"...
There are several things that make for a successful year-end campaign, but planning is likely at the top of the list! When you plan ahead, it allows you to be proactive in crafting a great letter, segmenting your mailing list well, getting your board involved, and...
There's no magical solution to growing your fundraising, but there are some key strategies that – when applied consistently - will help you make progress on your fundraising outcomes. Here are some practical ways to prioritize your efforts toward those that have...
Looking for a simple way to share your mission with your community? Isn’t it about time everyone knew how great you were and what services you offered? Hosting a regular, monthly tour at your organization can do just that. A tour is a simple point of entry event...
Plan your thank you like you plan your ask. As fundraising professionals, we all know that donors need a thank you when they make a gift. But what we don’t always spend enough time on is how to make that thank you special to the donor. At Kennari...
A third-party endorsement is becoming a must have for any nonprofit who wishes to stand out above the crowd; it’s the nod of approval for your organization from an outside source. It could be another organization you work with, an association to which you belong, or...
Kalamazoo Public Library’s OnePlace programing recently livestreamed “A Better Normal: Reimagining Nonprofit and Philanthropy with Vu Le,” where more than 300 people gathered virtually to challenge ineffective philosophies and practices in the non-profit and...
Creating and maintaining a well-balanced, effective board for your organization doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are 10 'ingredients' of well functioning boards: The Board Takes Responsibility. This includes having a Governance Committee to focus on pieces like...
Meet Mario Vargas! Mario is a senior at Grand Valley State University, graduating spring 2023 with a Bachelor's Degree in Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration with a minor in Sociology. Mario completed 2 semesters as an intern with Kennari in December 2022....
We asked each one of the team members at Kennari Consulting the following question: What is the single best piece of advice you would give a nonprofit organization that wants to strengthen their fundraising efforts? Here are our answers: Megan Brodie - Be intentional...
Any goals toward diversity, equity, and inclusion should drive your processes and practices. We recently sat down with a panel of community representatives who shared lessons and anecdotes from their own work in this space.
Meet Kelly Yagiela! Kelly comes to Kennari with her most recent experience as Fund Development Specialist at Milestone Senior Services, where she was responsible for their grant portfolio and has also been supporting their capital campaign and annual giving. She has a...