The Board of Directors plays a crucial role in the success of any nonprofit organization. A board with diverse skill sets, a productive committee structure, and adherence to term limits will best serve the organization in the long run. Two key factors that help...
Board Support in Fundraising Events
There are a variety of ways for board members to support fundraising events. Not everyone will be able to fill the same role, but everyone can and should contribute to the success of the event! Read more about the four key roles board members can play - inviting...
Evening Event Essentials
Great events take a significant amount of staff time. That’s why it’s important to make sure your organization gets the maximum return on investment in events both with dollars raised and meaningful engagement with attendees. Events that are mission-focused and help...
Getting Started on Your Table Hosted Events
Table-hosted events are an excellent way to attract new donors and build lasting donor relationships, especially when held annually. For many nonprofits, this is often a first choice when seeking to diversify their revenue streams or grow an annual donor base. Here...
5 Key Elements of Successful Year End Appeals
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...
New Team Member: Andy DeBraber
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...
Appeal segments: why they’re important in your database
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...
Intern Spotlight: Daiah Williams
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...
Optimize Your Outreach: Leveraging the New Bulk Email Standards
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...
How Gratitude Fuels Loyalty and Boosts Fundraising
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...
Intern Spotlight: Clinton Jackson
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...
Sandi Frost Steensma Named Recipient of 16 Over 60 Award by Senior Neighbors, Inc
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...
Cultivation: The Rule of Thumb
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,"...
Year End Appeals – That Work!
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...
Eight Strategies to Boost Fundraising
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...
Host a Tour & Drive Home Your Mission
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...
Thanking Your Donors
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...
You Talkin’ About Us?: The Value of Third Party Endorsements
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...
Staff Perspectives: Vu Le’s Reimagining Philanthropy
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...
10 Key Ingredients of Successful Boards
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...