FUNDRAISING ATLAS
What do you need
to finish?
A donor update. A board introduction. A promise that has moved between three inboxes. Start with the work in front of you.
Each guide works through a filled example to a decision, with words you can adapt and a clear next step for the person helping you.
Who Promised What?
Find the promises still open in your sent mail and call notes, then hand each one over with the original deadline and dates that work.
Find and hand over ↗02More new donors than time to call themThe Second Gift Starts Here
Count what you owe, give the remaining hours to the right conversations and send a welcome every donor can count on.
Plan the week ↗03A board member offered an introductionOne Introduction, Ready to Make
Decide whether a suggested name is ready for an introduction, then send the cover note and three messages.
Prepare the introduction ↗04A donor is waiting for program newsOne Story, Ready to Send
Turn a program lead’s rough notes into an update with a real result, an honest reading of it and a detail worth sharing.
Draft the update ↗05Our retention numbers don’t agreeBefore You Call Them Lapsed
Reconcile retained, new and returning donors, see what a changing donor mix does to the rate and write the board explanation.
Check the count ↗Three decisions from the field notes
AThank-yous are waiting for the CEOThe thank-you is stuck in the CEO’s inbox
Review what recent approvals actually changed, then propose a standing rule with exceptions, a trial and a fallback.
Open the approval audit ↗BA story is wanted for a new useA backup makes “no” possible
Have the replacement ready before you ask, so the person whose story it is can decline, and give production one story-use record.
Open the story-use record ↗CFinance and the dashboard disagreeGrowth can hide a leak
Reconcile two retention figures, agree one definition with finance and explain the gap in a note the other report’s owner can check.
Reconcile the reports ↗Before the next appeal
Five decisions about urgency, donor choice, intentions, thank-yous and contact promises. Each has a worked case and messages you can use.
06The appeal needs urgency. The facts are still being checked.The Deadline Has to Be Real
Write an urgent appeal your program and finance teams can stand behind.
Open the guide ↗07We want to ask donors which program matters to them.What Does This Box Promise?
Ask donors what matters and make clear what their answer changes.
Open the guide ↗08A donor said they plan to give. What do we record now?The Gift That Hasn't Happened
Follow up on an intention without counting it as money.
Open the guide ↗09Someone wants to add a giving link to the thank-you.Thanks, Then Another Ask?
Decide whether an invitation belongs in this donor’s thank-you.
Open the guide ↗10We promised fewer fundraising emails. Several teams send them.One Email Means Every Team
Make an email-frequency promise every sender can keep.
Open the guide ↗Download the workbook and the original five guides ↗
Explore the field notes on the Development Shelf ↗
A field guide by Gratona, for nonprofit development directors and operations teams. Worked examples are fictional. Use the messages and records with facts, permissions and dates that fit your organization.