Jessica Cloud, CFRE | Real Deal Fundraising
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jcloudrealdeal.bsky.social
Jessica Cloud, CFRE | Real Deal Fundraising
@jcloudrealdeal.bsky.social
Tips to help nonprofits raise ⬆️ 💵
https://linktr.ee/jcloudrealdeal
You can have the best campaign plan in the world.
But if you sit across from a major donor and flinch when you ask?

It’s not because you weren’t prepared.
It might be because you didn’t believe you were allowed to receive that level of generosity.
November 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A missed field. A skipped exclusion. A donor left off an invite.

Data mistakes don’t just waste time – they can cost you real gifts.

If you’re tired of scrambling after the fact, it’s time to get ahead of the problem.
November 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
If you're a fundraiser who relies on data (that’s all of us), here's one way to instantly improve your outcomes:

Write better data requests.

Take five minutes now to:

✅ Avoid five days of email ping-pong

✅ Protect your deadlines

✅ Build trust with your CRM team
✅ Stop scrambling
November 10, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Walked into a networking event in fishnets and suede boots – feeling confident, but wondering:

“Can a woman really move up in leadership dressed like this?”
September 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
You write appeals that would convince you.
That’s the mistake.

Donors decide differently:
🧠 Stats
💼 Bold ask
🗂 Structure
💬 Emotion

The best appeals speak to all 4.
That’s how you connect.

DM me if you don’t know your default style.

#fundraising #npsky
September 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Fundraising is a people job. You can’t show that in a PDF.

Want to break in? Network like it’s your job.

Ask for info interviews. Volunteer. Talk to people.

The fundraiser who builds relationships to get the job is the one who thrives in the job.

#fundraising #npsky
September 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Avoiding the ask doesn’t protect the relationship – it confuses it. Donors expect clarity. That’s why we reframe the ask as an invitation. Use: “I’d love to talk about a way to deepen your impact.” What helps you ask with confidence?
#fundraising #nonprofits #npsky
September 5, 2025 at 3:45 PM
If you deflect compliments, how will you stand still during a big gift conversation? Receivership is about owning your worth. No hedging. No shrinking. Just “thank you.” How do you build your capacity to receive?
#fundraising #nonprofits #npsky
September 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Asking isn’t taking. It’s alignment. When donors give, they’re stepping into something bigger than themselves. That’s Reciprocity – one of the 3 Rs of fundraising mindset. What’s a donor story that reminded you this work is mutual?
#fundraising #nonprofits #npsky
September 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Years ago, I worried what my peers would think if I wore a suit to a big presentation.

Here’s what I learned: presence isn’t about the outfit. It’s about the authority you choose to step into.

#fundraising #nonprofits #highereducation
August 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
One donor story can spark more planned giving leads than any brochure. Share it with heart, and you might be surprised who’s ready to say yes. Read my 5 tips: buff.ly/tJLizRO
#fundraising #npsky #nonprofits
August 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Most nonprofits are sitting on a goldmine of planned giving leads – and it’s in their donor stories. Here’s how to turn them into action: buff.ly/tJLizRO
#fundraising #npsky #nonprofits
August 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
New nonprofit founders need to build with patience and not try to take shortcuts by do ethicall
August 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Want more planned giving leads? Start with 5 questions donors love to answer & that inspire others to give. Here’s how to use them to spark legacy gifts: buff.ly/tJLizRO
#fundraising #npsky #nonprofits
August 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Why commissions are ethical for fundraising.. #fundraising #nonprofits #highereducation #nonpro
August 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
#onthisday
August 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Fundraising isn’t a task to delegate – it’s part of your role as a nonprofit leader. Your presence builds trust, and trust builds support. Here’s why that matters (and what to avoid): buff.ly/DZoXExZ

#fundraising #npsky #nonprofits
August 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Beginning the journey to the CFRE. #fundraising #nonprofits #highereducation #nonprofitsoftikto
August 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The CFRE gave me something no job title ever did: real confidence in my skills and decisions. #
August 14, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Starting a nonprofit takes guts – and saying no to commission-based fundraising takes even more. Fast money can cost you long-term trust. Here’s what to do instead: buff.ly/DZoXExZ
#fundraising #npsky #nonprofits
August 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Waiting until you’re “ready” to start your CFRE? Don’t. Just start tracking. Progress beats per
August 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The CFRE isn’t trivia. It’s strategy, ethics, leadership. That’s what makes it powerful. #fundr
August 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Commission-based fundraising feels like a shortcut – but it’s a trap. It damages trust, donor relationships, and your mission. New nonprofits deserve better. 🚩 Full post here: buff.ly/DZoXExZ
#fundraising #npsky #nonprofits
August 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Getting your CFRE isn’t just about a test—it’s a declaration: I’m committed. I take this seriou
August 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
How it sounds when you put all parts of the ask formula together #fundraising #nonprofits #high
August 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM