In fundraising, and in life, we are often asked to talk about ourselves and the work we do. Words help us communicate ideas and thoughts to others, and shape how we understand and create meaningful relationships with people, our emotions, and lived experiences....
I had the opportunity to intern for Kennari Consulting during my last semester at Grand Valley State University in the winter of 2022. During my intern experience with the Kennari team, I was immersed into the nonprofit fundraising consulting world that consisted of...
The Giving Garden, launched this month, is the first book written by Sandi Frost Steensma, Founder of Kennari Consulting. With over 30 years of experience in fundraising and public service, Sandi offers a unique and comprehensive perspective and valuable insights for...
The Michigan Nonprofit Association has partnered with Association TRENDS to conduct a confidential compensation and benefits survey. It is FREE to participate, and all participants will receive a significant discount on the final report later in the summer of 2022....
Does your database spark joy? Are you a “clean it now” type of person? Or are you a procrastinator? Your database system is only as good as what you put in there. Regardless of your current data cleaning regimen, we have some guidelines to keep in mind while...
Meet Marissa Acevedo! Marissa is a senior at Grand Valley State University, graduating this month with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Communications with a minor in Psychology. Marissa Acevedo, Kennari Spring Intern, 2022 My time with Kennari Consulting has...
What will jumpstart your fundraising efforts? Is it leadership? Board involvement? A seasoned Development Director? Well -- all of these components are great, but without a sharp administrative staff person, your efforts can lag and become easily bogged down. We know....
Laura Kruisenga, Kennari President & CEO (left) with the Kennari Consulting Leadership team.
If you are in the midst of defining and discussing a new campaign, feasibility studies can help identify the factors that can lead to its success. A feasibility study is an assessment that determines the level of potential support for your campaign and/or project....
The board is often the most critical piece in moving any nonprofit forward. We often hear from staff: “our board doesn’t do anything!” while on the other hand, we often hear from board members: “I don’t know what they want!” The various skillsets and perspectives that...
On February 2, Kennari Consulting celebrates its 15th anniversary and its commitment to its mission; to change the face of philanthropy, moving nonprofits of all sizes to greater capacity and meaningful impact within the communities they serve. This year the...
Meet Dorokasi Nizigimana, a Senior at Cornerstone University majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. Dorokasi just wrapped up a two-semester internship with Kennari. My experience with Kennari Consulting has taught me many valuable concepts,...
The Giving USA Report is the longest running annual report on U.S. charitable giving, and is published by the Giving USA Foundation. It is researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. In 2020, $471.44 billion was contributed,...
Over the past two years of the pandemic, one of the messages Kennari has championed most ardently is that this is the time to prioritize new approaches and innovation in fundraising. Nonprofits have faced numerous and varied challenges over this period so it is...
When your organization decides to take the exciting step of launching a campaign, it’s hard not to talk about it! After all, campaigns aren’t a regular occurrence at organizations, and they can be totally transformative. In order to maximize the support around the...
The subtitle for this month’s roundtable could be “Building Stronger Relationships with Your Donors,” because your communications strategy is a critical piece of donor relationship development. To maximize your communications for the greatest impact, you need a plan...
Guest Blog: Abby Jarvis, Nonprofit Education Manager, Qgiv Many nonprofits raise up to 50% of their annual revenue during the month of December. The end-of-year fundraising season is a whirlwind for fundraisers; there’s so much to do! That’s why we recommend planning...
Nothing gives your fundraising a boost like a great matching or challenge gift to inspire donors. As fundraising consultants, Kennari regularly suggests adding a match or challenge to clients’ fundraising design and the reason is simple: everyone wins! The lead donor...
We learned a lot of lessons in 2020, especially in how we communicate with donors. We became more reliant on technology than ever, and online giving grew the most it has ever grown. But this also means we lost some personal connection with our donors. Gaining that...
Many nonprofits are making plans for in person fundraising events - and there are great resources out there for making the shift back. Mobile Cause recently came out with "8 Strategies to give donors confidence attending in-person events" and the list is full of good...