Capital Campaigns
The Importance of Leadership Gifts
If there is one concept that is always essential, it is the importance of quality leadership. There are many different expressions of leadership, all of which are necessary. Leadership of time, leadership of talent, leadership from staff as well as from volunteers. And, of course, there are leadership gifts, the foundation of a successful capital…
Read MoreBenefits of a Capital Campaign
What does it mean to have a successful capital campaign? Clearly, reaching or exceeding the dollar goal is a significant and meaningful measure. Winning campaigns, however, create, multiple and diverse ripples of activity throughout an organization which help it become stronger and better able to fulfill its mission.
Read More12 Ways to Grow Your Pool of Major Donors
Every nonprofit executive would love to have a free-flowing stream of major gifts. Here are some tips to help you grow your pool of major donors. How to Inspire Major Donors Here are strategies you can employ to create a new pool of major donors and to inspire your current donors to get further involved:…
Read MoreFighting a Campaign Slowdown
As much as we plan, plan, plan, there inevitably comes a time in most capital campaigns when activity slows dramatically. This is known as a campaign slowdown. There are few things more frustrating in a capital campaign than losing valuable momentum. Capital Campaign Momentum Properly planned campaigns get off to a quick start because of…
Read MoreHow to Communicate Well with Major Donors
Learning to communicate well and at a deeper level with your major donors is important to grow your base of support. Do you know why your major donors and prospects would care about what you do? Consider Donor Motivation When it comes to what motivates your major donors, think about these questions: What relationship do…
Read MoreHow to Create a Great Campaign Meeting
Here at CDS Fundraising, we know from decades of experience that fundraising efforts thrive on momentum. A well-run campaign meeting is one of the best tools we have to inspire, motivate, and push our volunteer leaders to achieve their goals and further this momentum. By including the proper components, we can make campaign meetings the…
Read MoreHow to Be an Agent of Change
I was surprised to see in recent weeks that a six-year-old book remains on the New York Times Best Seller List, recently at #3 among nonfiction paperbacks. The book is The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. It seems as though it has become its own best promoter, demonstrating what happens when…
Read MoreOvercome the Emotional Costs of Paying for Fundraising
Few Board Members would argue with the adage “You have to spend money to make money.” Yet campus leaders often quibble about how much to spend to raise money or what funds to use to finance campaign costs. Perhaps a more pertinent expression when it comes to paying for fund-raising is “Everybody wants to go…
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