Belief, Belonging & Trust: The Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Donors
Dawn Robinson, CFRE, Vice President Recently I’ve been thinking about the values of belief, belonging, and trust—how they shape our lives, and especially how they shape our giving habits. As human beings, we are hard-wired to bond socially, to work towards something greater than ourselves, and to seek out leaders we can rely on. These […]
Your Campaign Readiness Checklist
“Is our organization ready to launch a campaign?” This question is why Cramer & Associates exists – to help nonprofits prepare for and execute successful campaigns that help fulfill their missions and bring their visions to life. We always say that launching a campaign is best done when your organization needs to. However, it’s crucial […]
Angel Donors Get Their Wings
Michelle Cramer, CFRE, President & CEO It happened again just last week: one of our nonprofit Executive Directors called to tell me that they had received a gift of $500,000 to their campaign from an unexpected donor. “We barely knew this person, and out of the blue, they called to learn more about our project,” […]
Gratitude is a Game Changer
The Revolutionary Power of a Traditional Thank You If trends in the greeting card industry are any indication, thank you notes are in decline. In recent years, prominent card sellers Papyrus and Paper Source have filed for bankruptcy, and younger generations are forgoing handwritten messages in favor of quick and easy texts and emails. Even […]
Campaign Consultants: Taking the Fear Factor Out of Fundraising
October is here, and it’s the spookiest time of year. Ghosts and goblins seem to lurk around every corner. In the dark, our imaginations make every shadow and sound just a little bit more frightening. But if you work in the philanthropic sector, you’re probably haunted by inflation and economic recession. Giving was at an […]
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month & the 5th Anniversary of Camp Amigas
Michelle Cramer, CFRE, President & CEO Five years ago, I decided I wanted to do something to honor my mother and my Hispanic heritage and Camp Amigas was born! Camp Amigas provides the gift of a camp experience to Latina Girl Scouts here in central Ohio. This year over 40 girls and their families enjoyed a […]
What’s Your Working Genius?
Discover Your Talents and Strengthen Your Team On September 27th, celebrated author and management consultant Patrick Lencioni is launching his latest book, “The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team,” and everyone here at Cramer is excited. We are huge fans of Patrick and his […]
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Recession
How should your organization prepare for the challenges ahead? Recession. These days, you can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on a TV without hearing about it. This word conjures anxiety, fear, and horrible memories of economic downturns and crises past. At Cramer & Associates, we’ve been thinking a lot about the 2008 recession, the […]
“Rejection is God’s Protection”
Dawn Robinson, CFRE, Vice President “Rejection is God’s Protection.” I heard this phrase recently from Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics, on the EntreLeadership Podcast. The truth of it struck me hard. I thought about all the times our Cramer team had put hours upon hours into a proposal or presentation to a nonprofit […]
Corporate Sponsorships
As a nonprofit, obtaining corporate sponsorships for your event may seem like an intimidating task to take on as it involves research, appealing to companies, and following up to stay engaged. Many nonprofits have effectively leveraged their relationships with corporate sponsorship to be invaluable sources of not just revenue, but also serve as a positive […]
