Donor Appreciation Events

Nonprofits, if I had to find individual donors on LinkedIn today, this is what I’d do: 1. Stop looking for people who give. Start connecting with people who care. Most nonprofits search LinkedIn like it’s a donor database. It’s not. It’s a credibility engine. A place to build trust before you make the ask. Search for professionals already talking about your issue. Comment. Connect. Converse. Give them a reason to care deeply before you ask them to give generously. 2. Show up like a human, not a campaign. Your “donate now” link isn’t moving the needle. But your story might. • Share why your mission matters right now • Highlight real people your org supports • Post like you’re inviting someone into your world, not your wallet The best donor acquisition strategy on LinkedIn? Authenticity. Not ads. 3. Lead with value, not just need. High-capacity individuals aren’t just looking to donate. They’re looking to make a difference. Position your nonprofit as a place where their expertise, network, or values can come to life. • Invite them to events • Ask for advice before asking for dollars • Treat every connection like a potential partner, not a transaction 4. Build trust in the comments section. Your next major donor could be watching how you engage. So: • Add thoughtful insights to industry conversations • Respond with gratitude when someone shares your post • Use your comments to show, not sell Trust is built one exchange at a time. And LinkedIn gives you unlimited reps. 5. Think like a matchmaker, not a fundraiser. Every donor has a cause that fits their identity. Your job is to help them see why it’s yours. That means: • Mapping shared values • Connecting their background to your impact • Making the giving experience personal, not generic People give when it feels aligned, not obligated. Finding donors isn’t about louder campaigns. It’s about deeper conversations. And LinkedIn is the greatest donor discovery tool you’re probably not using right. Comment Donors and I’ll send over a free guide on how to find and connect with the right individuals on LinkedIn, without begging or spamming. With purpose and impact, Mario

How differently can you interact with the executives at the year-end party? I remember our annual fundraising events, usually held at a hotel with lots of parking and good food. The thought of approaching high-level leaders and guests invited was often intimidating at the beginning. However, the relaxed environment was too inviting to let go of the once-a-year opportunity. Thankfully, I was involved in the preparation of the guest list. This helped me prepare intentionally for conversations with key executives or guests. One of the interesting networking books that has been beneficial to me is Keith Ferrazzi's 'Never Eat Alone'. PS: If you want to be intentional about your networking at events as a leader, this book is a must-read and belongs to your home library for regular reference. Ferrazzi emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships. Here are some tips from his book. 1. Be prepared with conversation starters. Before the event, think of some engaging questions or topics to discuss. Research the executives you may meet, focusing on their recent achievements or initiatives within the company. For example, if you know they led a successful project, you could ask, “What inspired your approach to that project?” This shows you’re invested in their work and opens the door for a deeper conversation. 2. Use the give-first approach. Ferrazzi advocates for a mindset of giving before expecting anything in return. Look for ways to provide value to the executives you meet. This could be as simple as sharing an interesting article related to their work or offering insights on industry trends. When you focus on how you can help others, you create an atmosphere of reciprocity and goodwill. 3. Practice Active Listening. Listening is a vital component of effective networking. Show genuine interest in what the executive has to say by asking follow-up questions and engaging with their responses. This not only fosters a deeper connection but also demonstrates your respect for their time and perspective. 4. Be Mindful of Body Language. Nonverbal communication plays a significant role in how we are perceived. Maintain eye contact, smile, and use open body language to convey your interest and enthusiasm. Your demeanor can help create a welcoming environment that encourages more profound interactions. 5. Follow Up with Purpose. After the event, don’t forget to follow up with the executives you connected with. Send a personalized message expressing your appreciation for the conversation. Mention something specific you discussed. This will help reinforce the connection while also showing that you valued the engagement. According to Ferrazzi, 'The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity'. Remember: Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. What else would you add? Share in the comments below. #leaders #leadership #management #careers #womeninleadership #womenwholead

You attended 15 networking events this year and made zero meaningful donor connections. You're collecting business cards instead of building relationships. I reviewed a development director's activity report last week and found a pattern that explains why so many networking efforts fail. January: Chamber mixer - 12 business cards collected February: Nonprofit coalition meeting - 8 new contacts March: Community foundation breakfast - 15 cards April: Rotary Club presentation - 20 contacts The list continued through December. Fifteen events. 180+ business cards. Zero donors. When I asked about follow-up, the response was telling: "I sent LinkedIn connection requests to everyone and added them to our newsletter list." That's not relationship building. That's digital hoarding. Here's what actually happened at those events: Surface-level conversations about weather and work. Quick elevator pitches about programs. Business card exchanges with promises to "stay in touch." But no genuine interest in the other person's philanthropic goals. No questions about what causes they care about. No authentic connections that would make someone want to learn more about the organization. The development director was networking like a salesperson trying to hit quota instead of like a mission-driven leader trying to find aligned partners. Real donor relationships start with curiosity about the other person, not pitches about your organization. They're built through follow-up coffee meetings, not mass email additions. Those 180 business cards represent 180 missed opportunities to have meaningful conversations with people who might care deeply about the work. Stop measuring networking success by contacts collected. Start measuring it by relationships that lead to second conversations. Because in fundraising, one genuine connection beats one hundred superficial contacts every time.

If you know me, you know that I’m not exactly the biggest fan of events and conferences. 😅 It’s awkward, I’m not great at small talk, and the social anxiety. “Woosah” But here’s the thing: events and conferences are 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 to meet funders in person—especially for nonprofits based in the Global South. And avoiding them? Not an option. This month, in my "𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳" series, I’m sharing tips that have made my work easier and more efficient. 💡 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗽? 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀. Conferences are a regular part of the job, so having a go-to system means you can focus on what matters: making meaningful connections. Here’s what’s worked for me: ⏰ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆: Three months before the conference: • Reach out to current funders first, set meetings with them, and (based on your relationship) ask if they can introduce you to potential funders attending. • Re-engage potential funders with an update (e.g., new findings, a study, or a program milestone) and request a meeting. • Reach out to peers and other organizations as well - these relationships are just as valuable. 🎯 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: For example, "secure 10 one-on-one meetings with potential partners, aiming for a pipeline of $1 million in funding opportunities within the next 6 months." Having a target keeps you focused and makes it easier to measure success. 🔍 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Make a list of your top 10 funders to connect with. Use the conference attendee search tool to see if they’ve attended before. Share this list with your senior leadership, board members, and donor networks—they can help with intros! 📊 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵: Create a simple system to track responses and schedule meetings as soon as you’ve sent emails. A spreadsheet or CRM tool works great for this. 📧 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: Prepare email templates for current and potential funders. Include placeholders to personalize based on their interests or connections. 📅 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆: Persistence is key! 🗣️ 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀: Know your key messages and tailor them for different audiences. 🕵🏽♀️ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 “𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲”: Develop a 'Profile Guide' for potential partners you couldn’t secure a meeting with. Research their recent projects, priorities, and areas of interest, and keep this guide easily accessible for impromptu discussions or future outreach. 🔄 𝗥𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁: After the conference, refine your system, note what worked, and reuse it for future events. What are your tips for preparing for conferences? I’d love to hear what works for you. Follow @imanlipumba for more smart fundraising tips. #FundingAfrica #Fundraising #InternationalDevelopment #Nonprofit

Many professionals are great at collecting contacts but poor at securing appointments. Networking is not about how many cards you gather. It’s about how many conversations you successfully continue. Here are 7 practical steps to secure an appointment from someone you met at a networking event. 1. Remind them where you met (Don’t assume they remember) You may have spoken to only 3 people. They may have spoken to 30. Your first message should reduce mental stress for them. Bad: “Hello sir, this is John.” Better: “Hello, sir, this is John. We met at the LBS SME conference yesterday. We spoke briefly after the panel on access to finance.” Now their brain relaxes. They can place you. 2. Reference the conversation you had. This shows you were not just distributing cards like flyers. Example: “You mentioned your company is expanding into Northern Nigeria and struggling with distributor performance.” Now it feels personal, not random. 3. State clearly WHY you want the meeting. Busy people don’t attend “just to connect” meetings. Give a benefit-focused reason. Bad: “I would like to discuss opportunities.” Good: “I’d love to share one or two ideas we’ve used to help companies improve distributor accountability without increasing field costs.” Make it about value, not vibes. 4. Keep the ask small. Don’t ask for a 2-hour strategy session with someone you just met. Ask for something easy to say yes to. Bad: “Could we have a meeting or chat next week?” Good: “I’ll keep it brief and focused. Say 10 minutes” Short feels safe. Safe gets yes. 5. Suggest specific time options. Don’t say: “When will you be free?” That creates work for them. Instead: “Would Tuesday afternoon or Thursday morning work? I can adjust to your schedule if those don’t fit.” You just made it easier to respond. 6. Use gentle, professional follow-up. People get busy, distracted, or overwhelmed. No reply doesn’t always mean no. After 3–5 days: “Just a soft reminder in case you got very busy. I would still value a short conversation whenever your schedule allows.” Polite. Calm. No pressure. No attitude. 7. Show up prepared when they say yes. This is where many people waste the opportunity. Before the meeting: Research their company. Be clear on the ONE key value point you want to share. Prepare 2–3 smart questions. Keep to time. If the meeting is valuable and respectful, you won’t need to beg for the next one. Networking doesn’t fail at the event. It fails in the follow-up. The goal is not to impress people at events. The goal is to earn the next conversation. Over the next few posts, I’ll be sharing: 🔹 What to say during the first meeting 🔹 How to follow up after the meeting without sounding desperate 🔹 How to turn networking contacts into paying clients If this is relevant to you, save post, turn on notifications so you don’t miss them. Help someone by sharing. Ferdinand M. Ibezim Author of "The Critical Pillars of Making Quality Contacts and Connections"

When I talk about networking, I’m not talking about awkward small talk or exchanging as many business cards as possible. Networking, when done right, is about creating meaningful connections that can last beyond the event. Here’s how to approach networking at events with intention: 1️⃣ Show Up Prepared: Know who’s attending, research speakers, and have a clear idea of who you want to meet. Preparation shows respect and sets the tone for a valuable interaction. 2️⃣ Listen More Than You Talk: Networking isn’t about selling yourself—it’s about showing genuine interest in the other person. Ask thoughtful questions and listen with intent. People remember how you make them feel. 3️⃣ Add Value Immediately: Whether it’s offering an introduction, sharing a helpful resource, or simply being present in the conversation, think about how you can bring value to the relationship from the start. 4️⃣ Follow Up Like a Pro: The real magic of networking happens after the event. Send a personal follow-up email or LinkedIn message that reflects on your conversation and keeps the door open for future collaboration. Remember, it’s not about the quantity of connections—it’s about the quality of relationships. Every interaction is an opportunity to build trust, learn something new, and grow your network authentically.

Event organisers are power brokers. Knowing and leveraging that shortens your networking journey and opens you to a lot of opportunities. A lot of people want to network with power. Smart people network with the power brokers. At events, everyone is mostly chasing the same targets: Speakers. Sponsors. High-profile guests. Meanwhile, they are ignoring one of the most strategic groups in the room: The event organizers. Here’s what most people don’t understand: Event organizers are not just planners. They are power brokers. Gatekeepers. Network hubs. They control access to rooms, conversations, and relationships most attendees never reach. So if you’re serious about strategic networking, you need to expand your approach: 1. Don’t ignore the Convener and planning team. These are the people shaping the entire ecosystem of the event. 2. Build genuine relationships with organizers. Not transactional. Not last-minute. Intentional, respectful, and consistent engagement. 3. Understand their value beyond the event. Organizers carry networks that extend far beyond one room, one stage, or one conference. Here’s the reality: If speakers are the visible face of an event, organizers are the infrastructure behind it. And infrastructure controls access. Networking only with “famous names” is incomplete strategy. Networking with those who create the platform is leverage. If you want deeper access, better rooms, and stronger opportunities, start paying attention to who actually opens the doors. #Networking #EventStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #Leadership #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalNetworking #PersonalBrand

Networking at events - how to do it right? Recently, Ekaterina Altbregina and I ran a workshop on event networking for a large system integrator. We talked about how to prepare, how to start conversations naturally, and how to follow up after. Participants practiced real-life scenarios in small groups. Practice helps. Because even experienced professionals often feel awkward when it comes to small talk and turning networking into business opportunities. There’s a simple three-step framework we shared: 1️⃣ Before the event: – update your LinkedIn profile – check who’s attending and schedule meetings – prepare what you might want to share (if relevant) – research your target audience and key trends 2️⃣ During the event: – start with an icebreaker → small talk → active listening → share contacts → agree on follow-up – balance planned meetings and spontaneous chats – take breaks, recharge, and attend sessions 3️⃣ After the event: – follow up, stay helpful, build relationships – sell only if it’s the right time Online + offline/onsite activities together are the winning combo. Don’t miss out on either.