When Kickstarter launched in 2009, the fundraising landscape shifted. Today, crowdfunding is a way of life. How many campaigns have you been invited to on Facebook asking you to support a charitable cause, underwrite an athletic event, or donate to a friend in need?

When you think of getting money for your organization, where do you imagine the money coming from? Many startup organizations think of grant funding as the silver bullet for their budget. They jump from planning programs to hiring a grant writer. There’s no way to beat around the bush: this is a mistake.

It's almost the end of the fiscal year and I've had the luxury to dig into donor stewardship. Last week, I launched a campaign called "A Week of Gratitude": for a solid week I sent daily emails with quotes from constituents, held a "thank-a-thon" and send framed pictures to key donors.

When I learned about Moves Management early in my fundraising career it was one of those “ duh” moments. Even though I was new to fundraising, it just made so much sense. If there’s a fundraising magic bullet, this is it.

Annual funds and appeal letters go together like peanut butter and jelly. And like peanut butter and jelly, they are a staple in the fundraising world. In fact, solicitation letters make up about 7% of all fundraising revenue in the United States, and that doesn't include giving via email.

Have you ever gotten a letter from a nonprofit organization asking you for a donation?

It all begins with an idea.