Last week, I attended a capital campaign donor event for a client. After the presentation, when attendees were asked for input on the proposed project, one prospective major donor suggested an extreme change to the plan. That was closely followed by a flippant comment about how it would be hard to … [Read more...]
Why People Give to Nonprofits – and Why They Don’t
April 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Often, when I conduct a workshop or a solicitor development program — particularly with volunteer leaders — I facilitate a brainstorming session. I ask all the participants to give me every reason they can think of why people give. With my back to the participants, so that I can write on a … [Read more...]
Donor Acquisition, Staff Turnover and Resources
March 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
In week 10 of 100 Donors in 90 Days, Ken Burnett shares his expertise in Donor Acquisition. His early days included helping innovate Greenpeace’s now standard use of young people encouraging other people to give in public places. Since then, he has written books and helped many organizations … [Read more...]
Creating the Plan—Be Disciplined to Succeed
March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The annual fund is the foundation of every great development program. It provides an opportunity to identify, interest, involve, engage and acknowledge generous donors. A thoughtful plan of communication and contact, solicitation and stewardship, deepens relationships and creates life-long … [Read more...]
Marketing Your Nonprofit with Cute Babies?
February 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
It’s been a little over a week since the Super Bowl and it seems that the only lasting memories (outside of Baltimore) are the ads that continue to run on television and online. As always, talking babies, silly animals and beautiful, scantily-clad women were featured in the large majority of … [Read more...]
MJA Challenge: Exceeding Fundraising Goals
December 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This month, I found the article referenced in Resources: The MJA Newsletter, “Candy, Content and Competition – Why the UJA-Federation of New York Keeps Breaking Fundraising Records” an inspiration. It gleamed with ideas for engaging and encouraging donor involvement at all levels and I … [Read more...]
Engaging Prospects At A Nonprofit Event
October 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Week 6 of 100 Donors in 90 Days focuses on events as new donor cultivation opportunities. Events bring out polar responses from fundraisers. Some love them, some hate them but almost all agree that events can be a major “time-suck.” This week’s conversation with Shanon Doolittle explained … [Read more...]
The Nonprofit Lapsed Donor Project
June 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This week, as I listened to Week 2 of 100 Donors in 90 Days, I spent a lot of time nodding my head in agreement. Gail Perry offered a dead-on assessment of how many nonprofits ignore lapsed donors, previous board members and current and past volunteers, instead of embracing these people who have … [Read more...]
Meaningful Major Gifts: From The Heart And The Wallet
June 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Anyone who has sat in a room rating prospects for an upcoming capital campaign knows that it is hard to determine the right number for the ask. We can guess what a person is worth, determine what they have given to other organizations, examine their relationship with the organization and estimate … [Read more...]
Challenge: Major Gifts Moves Management
May 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Last week we published a Major Gifts Moves Management Field Guide. This week, we challenge you to pick 3 donors or prospects on your list with potential for growth. Create a full year of moves for each individual or couple. Use the Field Guide to help with provide suggestions. Remember to … [Read more...]