The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore. -Dale Carnegie “If you’re not asking them for money, someone else is.” - Abigail Harmon Recently, I have spoken to a few friends/colleagues who are … [Read more...]
10 Pieces of Paper That Will Help Your Organization
February 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Volunteer Packet - Volunteers can be incredibly useful and incredibly time consuming. Automate some of the systems by creating a packet for volunteers. You can learn about their interests, explain your priorities and areas of need, and establish a standardized set parameters for all involved. … [Read more...]
10 Ways To Make Your Executive Search Successful
December 10, 2006 By
10. Set a salary scale that is appropriate both to the job and to the market in which the search is being conducted. No one wants to overpay a candidate. But your pool of qualified applicants will diminish with each step down the ladder from the appropriate salary range. In many cases, you are going … [Read more...]
Top Ten Reasons Why Campaigns Succeed
August 1, 2006 By
10. Your campaign has a definite timetable: Mini-goals are crucial to keeping the campaign running according to schedule. If you set a goal such as “Raise $500,000 in the first two months,” you will be able to stick to your schedule much more easily than if you set only a goal such as “Raise … [Read more...]
It’s Harder To Get The Appointment Than To Get The Gift
May 10, 2006 By
A successful campaign requires that your solicitors understand the nuances of the ask. Among other things, a successful solicitor will: look to develop a long-term relationship with the donor(s) offer a strong case for giving practice what they are going to say and how they are going … [Read more...]
Seven Ways To Thank A Donor
July 1, 2005 By
What is the difference between organizations that acknowledge and recognize a donor once or twice after a major gift vs. seven times or more? Thousands and thousands of dollars. Before you say that you don’t have the time to thank someone seven times, please know that we do not mean that … [Read more...]
Overcoming the Anxieties of Asking
March 14, 2005 By
I have been a solicitor of major gifts for more than thirty years. Moreover, I have trained both volunteers and professionals around the country in the art of asking others for what my friend and mentor, Jerry Panas, calls “truly outrageous, consequential gifts.” One of the techniques that I … [Read more...]
Is This a Good Time to Raise Money?
October 13, 2004 By
Almost everywhere we go, prospective and current clients ask us, “Is this a good time to start a fundraising campaign?” Of course, everyone can make good use of more financial resources, but is now the time? Can you handle this type of endeavor with existing staff? Is the geopolitical situation … [Read more...]
The Most Common Fundraising Mistakes …and How Not to Make Them
June 16, 2004 By
In the past, we have touched on overcoming anxieties when confronted with the opportunity to share the joy of giving with a prospective donor on a face-to-face basis. We are anxious mostly because we are afraid that we will make a mistake. Think about that … [Read more...]
The Habits of Highly Successful Fundraisers
March 3, 2004 By
What follows are the nineteen habits of highly successful fundraisers. In this way, you can work to introduce these habits into your daily routines so that your next encounter with a major gift prospect will be successful to the fullest. Habit #1: … [Read more...]