James Davenport


Who is your archetypal donor?

Identifying your donors’ common characteristics can help you you both acquire new donors and retain and upgrade the ones you have.

Could listening to your donors make you a better fundraiser?

In a recent article, Theodore Wagenaar offers a donor’s perspective on giving. Fundraisers would do well to take heed.


The old adage is true: donors won’t give if they aren’t asked

Donors need to be asked for money. That doesn’t mean every meeting is an ask.

Red tickets on black
Raffles are not the answer

Small nonprofits shouldn’t rely on one-off fundraising events for long-term financial security.


Cultivating Belongingness: The work of a rural community foundation

The Wayne County Community is creating and promoting strong community and opportunity. Other rural community foundations should follow suit.

How to become a “preselected charitable organization”

Regardless of what a foundation’s 990 says, ongoing outreach from your organization can pay off.


memorial day
On Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a day on which we remember that the sacrifices of others is for naught if our work does not seek to preserve what theirs did.

Grist Announces Launch of the Rural Newswire

Grist and the Center for Rural Strategies have partnered to provide syndicated stories and grants to independent journalists and newsrooms.


Joe Rogan and Dave Portnoy discuss charity

Nonprofits should put most of their funds toward programs, but we must avoid the delusion that “overhead” is a bad investment.

unsolicited proposal
When to send an unsolicited proposal

Building a relationship is certainly the preferred route for getting a grant. But short of that, an unsolicited proposal may be just the trick to get a grant.