What if you couldn’t get new donors? Doesn’t matter what you do, the Grinch is now working year ‘round stealing each and every prospect. Your only recourse now is to start loving your existing donors.

That’s the sage advice of Tom Belford, who’s forgotten more about fundraising than I’ll ever know. It’s inspired by a similar question from marketing guru Seth Godin about new customers – or rather, the lack of them. Here are Tom’s suggestions:

1. Only three things count now. They are retention, retention and retention.

Keeping an eye on the American charitable sector is part of our service to our Canadian readers. Trends and techniques tend to migrate north, and we can learn from many best practices south of the border. Sometimes American charities are ahead of us on the mistakes curve too. In this column, I want to use an unfortunate American example as a springboard for reflection and learning.

Environmental charities have spent years flying under the radar. They’ve struggled to build awareness and stood last in line for government funding and donor dollars. Now, though, they’re moving to centre stage, tapping into our growing awareness of pollution, global warming and growing markets for resource-intensive products.

That expanded activity demands an expanded understanding of environmental action among legislators in Canada and abroad, according to charity law specialist Karen J. Cooper, a passionate environmental advocate and volunteer.

The lives of nonprofits in Australia will be transformed if Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivers on pledges his government has just made. They’ll be able to contribute to public debate knowing that their funding will remain secure. They’ll have help in recruiting and retaining paid and volunteer staff. 

And they’ll work with government in a new partnership that will see them engaged day by day with planning, policy and programs.

Better yet, they’ve got it in writing.

We’ve all seen charitable gift catalogues with school supplies, bedding kits and farm animals. This “symbolic giving” or “alternative giving” has been an effective way to raise funds and entice new donors. Until now, it’s been expensive as well.

Today, technology has changed the costs. But the majority of charities haven’t yet noticed, says Michael Johnston of HJC New Media Consultants, a company that’s helped several charities set up online symbolic giving programs.