Author

Tom Iselin

Tom Iselin is the president of First Things First, a business specializing in board retreats, strategic planning, fundraising, and executive coaching. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and written six books.To learn more, visit: Best Board Retreats | Strategic Planning | First Things First Homepage | tomiselin@gmail.com | 858.888.2278

Tom Iselin

Animal Shelter Fundraising Ideas: How to Raise More

Two women sitting on wooden chairs by a window, smiling and sharing a book together.

Strategic planning: what’s better, a one-year or five-year plan?

Smiling woman in gray jacket writing with pen at table with blue vase and yellow flowers.

5 Tips And Tactics To Become A Master Nonprofit Wordsmith

Man at desk with sticky notes showing drawn eyes covering his closed eyes, looking bored or tired.

How to Deal With Difficult or Disengaged Board Members

Five people seated around a table, engaged in discussion with laptops, notebooks, and mugs.

21 Ways Board Members Can Raise Money Without Making the Ask

Modern office with computer monitors, pencil holder, small plant, and blue chairs at a white desk.

Nonprofit Board Retreat Tips: 17 Ways to Plan One

Group of six diverse adults smiling together in a bright room with windows behind them.

The friendly factor: how going above and beyond wins donors and builds loyalty

Mature woman in glasses writing notes while sitting on couch with laptop and coffee nearby.

Stewardship Tactics That Are Sure To Keep Donors Tied To Your Cause

Four diverse women engaged in a lively discussion in a modern office setting.

Motivate Your Donors To Give More Without Pressure

Four business colleagues having a discussion in a modern office with charts on a whiteboard behind them.

Unresponsive Donors: A Smarter Way to Respond

Woman in black dress writing the word 'GOALS' on a whiteboard.

Finding the Best Strategic Planning Facilitator for Your Nonprofit: 9 Key Things to Look For

Modern office desk with dual monitors, pencil holder, small plant, and blue office chairs.

6 Reasons Why You Should Broaden Your Search For Your Next Nonprofit Board Retreat Facilitator

Group of people smiling and giving a high-five together in a casual indoor setting.

Next Level Donor Relations: Make The Experience “Unexpectedly Pleasurable”

Woman typing on a laptop at a white desk with a coffee cup and green plants in the background.

How Ignoring Staff Emails Drains Nonprofit Momentum

Two people at a wooden table with a notebook, tablet, phone, coffee cup, and glass of water.

Mastering Donor Meetings With Preparation

Two business people in suits reviewing documents and a tablet at an office desk with papers and a plant.

A Call To Action For Nonprofit Board Members

Two businesswomen writing and discussing ideas on a transparent board in a bright office.

Avoid Last-Minute Blues: Tips For Planning Ahead For Strategic Planning

Smiling woman clasping hands looking at a laptop in a workspace with boxes and a man in the background.

The Power of Possibility: A Growth Mindset Blueprint For Nonprofit Leaders

Two people in business suits discussing charts and graphs on paper at a meeting table.

When nonprofit boards mettle: the dangers of micromanagement

Woman with curly hair and glasses looks confused while holding notebooks against a plain wall.

12 Ways To Conquer Fundraising Fear Without Crying In A Supply Closet

Laptop keyboard and screen beside a black smartphone resting on a red notebook on a wooden table.

Make Your Board Retreat Outcomes Stick with “Ownership”

Two women sitting and talking in front of a green leafy background indoors.

Use Experiential Learning To Transform Your Next Board Retreat

Smiling man shaking hands across a table in an office with another man and a woman in background.

Don’t pitch, connect: 10 smart moves for first donor meetings

Five professionals having a discussion around a table with documents, glasses of water, and a laptop.

A Lighthearted Field Guide to Fundraising Disasters

Three coworkers sitting side by side at desks working on computers, one woman smiling at a colleague.

How to Fund Your Next Board Retreat or Planning Session

Mature woman with glasses writing in a notebook at a table with laptop and coffee cup nearby.

The year-end fundraising secret nobody uses

Four diverse coworkers having a discussion in a bright office with charts on a whiteboard.

Donor objections: a primer

Six professionals around a table with laptops and documents, discussing in a bright office meeting room.

Donor objections part 3: common and uncommon types

Two men engaged in conversation at a table with two women seated in the background.

Mastering donor objections: a simple 3-step process

Four diverse coworkers smiling and discussing papers around a table with laptops in a bright office.

The other 20%: Winning foundation, corporate, and government dollars

Three people dressed elegantly sitting at a candlelit table clapping and smiling.

Specialty Events: How To Turn Small Gatherings into Big Gifts

Follow-up tactics for your end-of-year appeals

Three women smiling and walking together holding folders and glasses in a modern office hallway.

Your Board Isn’t Working: Why a Board Retreat Might Be the Best Investment Your Nonprofit Makes This Year

Two young adults smiling and talking while holding coffee cups on a balcony with modern wooden beams behind.

The Importance of Building a Donor Pipeline Before You Need It

Get the latest fundraising articles in your inbox.