<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Team Kat & Mouse]]></title><description><![CDATA[We focus on increasing Fundraising through Tactic Training and Tools]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:07:06 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Five Moves That Transform Event Fundraising Revenue]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fundraising events are often the biggest line item on a nonprofit's fundraising calendar and can be the biggest source of stress. They can require months of planning, hundreds of moving pieces, and a significant investment of staff and volunteer time. Yet too often, organizations measure success by attendance instead of revenue, donor engagement, or long-term relationships. We work to support our clients across the fundraising continuum. We know that in small and mid-sized nonprofits it is...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/five-moves-that-transform-event-fundraising-revenue</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a45324d9c4d1b405b244449</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:35:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_77dbc772f07e4125979c6ea957c6046b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_200,h_330,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Mauser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Moment, The Mentor and Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[Picture this… I was 8 months pregnant with my son and had a 3-year-old at home. I was Director of Sales for 8 radio stations. I had never worked a job from home in my life. Enter the man who would change my life forever. It started with a call from the VP of a company called Interep Radio, the national sales representative for large radio groups like ABC and CBS. They had a project of scary proportions called Radio Disney (then owned by ABC) — a group of 50 unrated, low-power AM radio...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/the-moment-the-mentor-and-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4464863c06bdad542abb98</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 01:03:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_4e495a65673733314c784d~mv2_d_3200_2136_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Development Plan: Your Fundraising GPS for the Year Ahead]]></title><description><![CDATA[How did it happen that we are once again approaching July 1 and the start of a new fiscal year for many nonprofits? One of our clients recently asked if we could create a “Development Plan” for them as they approached the start of their year. It’s a question we hear often—and one we love—because it signals something important: a desire to be intentional, not just busy. Too often, development work becomes reactive. A sponsor asks for a meeting, so we take it. An event date sneaks up, so we...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/the-development-plan-your-fundraising-gps-for-the-year-ahead</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3d3ae1faba6cee57d857bd</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:34:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_56a008ec11ac448e87dcc7412b1fdc3a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Mauser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Communications Is Fundraising Strategy ... And Your Donors Are Watching]]></title><description><![CDATA[I love to tell a story…But how do you tell part of a story and leave out the KEY parts…It’s like telling the story of Thanksgiving 1985 and leaving out the part that your cousing nnouced he won the Lottery and was paying for everyone's college. We've all seen the nonprofit that sends a beautifully designed appeal, complete with compelling photos and an emotional story and then goes completely silent after the donation is made.  No update on how the money was used. No follow-up on the program...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/communications-is-fundraising-strategy-and-your-donors-are-watching</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a392d7ca24c28527fdd3c68</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:58:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_6143496b44476955466573~mv2_d_6105_4070_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The ABCs of AI for Grants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every year, nonprofit professionals spend enormous amounts of time, energy, and money trying to write better grant proposals. They attend workshops. They tweak their logic models. They agonize over word choice. And now, increasingly, they are turning to AI tools to help them produce more polished narratives faster. None of that is wrong. Strong grant writing genuinely matters. A muddled narrative, a budget that does not reconcile with your program description, or a proposal that ignores a...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/he-abcs-of-ai-for-grants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2b1c2b9095d1fb2e82d49a</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:36:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_3081b67f95d74a568b1d83129bc8a632~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_924,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ben Chambers</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Before You Hand the Wheel to AI, Know Where You're Going! And, a special invite!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Long ago, when I was in college, I drove from Buffalo to Michigan to visit my uncle. I was excited to see his family, but even more excited to spend time with my grandparents, who were visiting from New York. While I was there, my uncle pulled out his brand-new and very swanky, camcorder. For the first time in his life, my brilliant, sophisticated, MIT-graduate grandfather saw himself on a television screen. He was mesmerized… and maybe just a little unsettled. In 2025, that was the first...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/before-you-hand-the-wheel-to-ai-know-where-you-re-going-and-a-special-invite</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1dc60361de78e3b2156d35</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:37:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_f4e9c916c1a24e25beea266c54224f64~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Avoiding a Roy Family Reunion: Why Nonprofits Need Succession Plans]]></title><description><![CDATA[This weekend, my husband and I hosted "Camp Gramsy and Pops" for our three-year-old and five-month-old grandchildren. Actually, it was mostly for us (and for our daughter and son-in-law, who were able to enjoy some child-free time together). Luckily for everyone involved, both children sleep through the night. As I watched our grandchildren explore the world around them, I found myself reflecting on how our roles change over time. This weekend, I saw clearly how my role at home was evolving...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/avoiding-a-roy-family-reunion-why-nonprofits-need-succession-plans</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1d76317b6630756eef0de2</guid><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:14:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_ea9bef08afc64957986828031939e889~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Mauser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Leadership Programs Are Important in Nonprofits]]></title><description><![CDATA[I like to tell people I found my calling in the nonprofit field the traditional way: that is to say, completely by accident. So many of my friends in this sector are the same way. We are fueled by our desire to build stronger communities and make people’s lives better, but we often find we need a lot of on-the-job training.  Professional development programs are a lifesaver for people like us! So much of what I learned came from webinars, AFP events, and one-on-one connections with people who...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/why-leadership-programs-are-important-in-nonprofits</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0f67ac93cb63b5317cf199</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 20:19:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_af7bc01147de4cbcab136e3a7e3e6a36~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ben Chambers</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Should Nonprofit Organizations Engage in Marketing Efforts?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Years ago, I wrote a blog post titled “When Moira Rose Moved to Schitt’s Creek, She Took Her Wigs. It was a lighthearted way of sharing a very real truth: when I made the leap from radio sales into nonprofit management, I didn’t leave my experience behind — I packed it right alongside me. The skills I had spent years building in sales, advertising and marketing, event sponsorships, relationship management, and leadership quickly became some of my greatest assets in this new chapter.   What I...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/why-should-nonprofit-organizations-engage-in-marketing-efforts</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a038252e889759477a78b0b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_1ce8dc0622194b46b1d1724a342ae7c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_197,h_242,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's the Difference Between Leadership and Management in Nonprofits?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our Team Kat &#38; Mouse storytelling sessions often begin with a simple but important question: What brought you to the mission? The answer is what fuels our work and allows nonprofit professionals to speak authentically about the impact their organizations have on the communities they serve. But even the deepest passion can become buried beneath daily responsibilities, deadlines, and competing priorities. When that happens, organizations often face an important question:Can you manage your way...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/difference-between-leadership-and-management-in-nonprofits</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a01c617891eb8b8a912b422</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 12:09:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_434a1c737064429cbf492c45b5bf3644~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_568,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Mauser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fundraising Without the Frenzy (And Why a Consultant Changes Everything)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let’s be honest—fundraising is one of the hardest parts of running a nonprofit. Not because the mission isn’t strong. Not because the team doesn’t care. But because the constant pressure to secure funding can be exhausting. That’s where we come in. At Team Kat &#38; Mouse, we believe fundraising shouldn’t feel like a scramble—it should be a system. One that works, grows, and supports your mission long-term. Raising funds is generally acknowledged as a challenge in operating a nonprofit...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/fundraising-without-the-frenzy-and-why-a-consultant-changes-everything</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f49a927b1c42fb24f28023</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 12:25:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/61428c_7577fa979ed543b18243920805c0d85b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_438,h_366,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ben Chambers</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fundraising Activity vs Activity That Raises Funds]]></title><description><![CDATA[Yes, we are all very busy. So now must be the time for you to protect every moment of your day. Long ago, I moved from the world of radio to the ad agency world. There, I learned something that completely shifted my perspective: you must keep track of your time to bill clients. This was a huge surprise to me, since I had always just spent whatever time was needed to get the job done. SURPRISE!! I was learning what I had never fully understood before: your time is money--- this is a funny...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/fundraising-activity-vs-activity-that-raises-funds</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e7795a8b2f11ff8e593942</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:46:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_cf4033103fd34818b94766ea464f8950~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_676,h_394,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Changing the Conversation. As important with donors as in “real life”]]></title><description><![CDATA[Earlier this month, I went on my annual “Girls Weekend” with my four college besties. Not surprisingly, our conversations have evolved over the years. This time, instead of dissecting college applications or early career decisions, we found ourselves talking about caring for our aging parents—and making sure our own financial and estate plans are in order. Some of the questions were practical (When should we start taking social security?) and others led to more philosophical discussions....]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/changing-the-conversation-as-important-with-donors-as-in-real-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e614998c5d52014aa26717</guid><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_1b48efb5fedf4435bd5c4165444783f2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_480,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Mauser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hidden risks in grant pipeline management and funding process]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I talk to nonprofit leaders about their grant strategy, the conversation usually starts the same way: “We need more grants in the pipeline.” It sounds reasonable. More opportunities should mean more funding, right? Not necessarily. In fact, one of the biggest risks I’m seeing right now isn’t a lack of grant activity. It’s the wrong kind of grant activity. On paper, the pipeline looks full. In reality, it’s fragile. And that fragility tends to show up at the worst possible time—when...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/the-hidden-risk-in-your-grant-pipeline-right-now</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69dce8d68946a7ddf46e1c15</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:06:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_bd15a88ad9944374a10a7ea43d597daf~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ben Chambers</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Dance of Follow-Up]]></title><description><![CDATA[The story of Brian is a common one. He gathered business cards and contacts like they were valuable proof that he was building his business. They were saved in his phone and stacked on his desk like a small memorial to what might be possible. There was only one problem. He never followed up with any of them. That’s right—after every networking event, meeting, or introduction, Brian simply returned to his daily routine of answering requests from advertising agencies and selling radio...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/the-dance-of-follow-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b8208e107e0353b7589b63</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:24:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_26db8174bf3b4f2c91dd18a3b43ac704~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Fundraising, Donors Are the Bread That Holds Everything Together]]></title><description><![CDATA[At the beginning of 2026, like many people looking for a fresh start, I spent some time choosing a “word for the year.” I hoped it would guide me through a year that I already knew might be complicated — and maybe help keep one of my personal tendencies in check: the instinct to disconnect when things get overwhelming. I wanted a word that would remind me to stay present. The word I chose was AVAILABLE . There are a lot of people counting on me (more on that in a bit), and I want to be...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/in-fundraising-donors-are-the-bread-that-holds-everything-together</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b1a7874a59a79963772f8d</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:38:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_495a304c5274316b68674d~mv2_d_4115_3292_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Mauser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Recessions Don't Kill Strong Fundraising Programs]]></title><description><![CDATA[When headlines start warning about a potential recession, fundraisers tend to feel the tension immediately. Board members begin asking cautious questions. Development teams start wondering whether they should scale back their goals. And somewhere along the way, a quiet assumption starts to creep into conversations: If the economy turns, fundraising is going to collapse. It’s an understandable fear. Many nonprofits remember the uncertainty of the early days of the pandemic or the financial...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/why-recessions-don-t-kill-strong-fundraising-programs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aedd35f41d7389c2a3a157</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:55:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_61f3e9fa672b4abab069a9cd4f4f79f0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Ben Chambers</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A dear friend, a blizzard and a lesson in how to treat Donors]]></title><description><![CDATA[I am a very lucky woman. I have a circle of friends I adore — including friends from my childhood in Queens. Sometimes we talk about “the old days,” but mostly we talk about today and tomorrow. That is the basis of my theory about old friends:You don’t keep old friends around because of yesterday.You keep them because you would choose them again today. That is certainly true of my friend Linda. We met when we were five years old. We have spent decades celebrating birthdays, milestones, and...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/a-dear-friend-a-blizzard-and-a-lesson-in-how-to-treat-donors</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a5a01660298c02e5bf8cb5</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:59:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_da1a478703624b71ad77eeea202ae993~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_334,h_398,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Organization Is Ready for Planned Giving — The Magic of a Blended Gift]]></title><description><![CDATA[We have a training that we’ve brought to many of our Team Kat &#38; Mouse partner clients on the topic of nimble fundraising — ensuring that your organization’s fundraising can respond to changes in circumstances. These changes can be natural disasters (hurricanes), political disruptions (government shutdowns that impact funding), foundation sunset decisions, or even a board decision to cancel a long-standing special event. Diversification and adaptability are essential to resilience. The...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/your-organization-is-ready-for-planned-giving-the-magic-of-a-blended-gift</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69979439aab309115cb5566b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:02:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_310e9fa376574cf7baa71c4049b70be7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Mauser</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Have the belief of Lindsey and the conviction of Benito.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Last week, I had what felt like a zillion conversations about Lindsey Vonn. While I used to ski—and ruptured my ACL twice—I am not an expert in either. What I am obsessed with is the kind of passion that allows people to come back from great injury, sorrow, or defeat and decide they will succeed again—sometimes in an even bigger and better way. Early in my career with the American Red Cross, while serving as Executive Director, I was asked to respond to a multi-unit fire where media were...]]></description><link>https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/have-the-belief-of-lindsay-and-the-conviction-of-benito</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b92e60a33f86ef415f11a</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:30:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/58083f_0589fc1adc794298b06c640413145248~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_876,h_926,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sharon Kitroser</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>