Capital Campaigns
Making Direct Mail Work
It’s easy to waste a lot of money very quickly with direct mail. The cost of the “package” as well as postage costs can soon exceed the income and benefits of any program. Here are 14 questions that may help focus your direct mail and make the effort successful for you and your organization.
Read MoreMajor Gift Solicitation
As fundraising professionals, we all want to get the biggest gifts for our client organizations. We want a major gift from every potential donor. The only way to accomplish major gift solicitation is by working daily to improve our listening and speaking skills and by practicing for each approach. Training and Preparation Solicitor training is…
Read MoreHands on Means Hands Down (Victory, That Is!)
It has become increasingly clear to me with each capital campaign I am involved with, that the single most important determining factor in the magnitude of success is the level and intensity of involvement by principals of the organization—both professional staff and volunteers. That is, I find a direct correlation between the level of success…
Read MoreGo for the Gold: Ask for What You Want
The old adage “go for the gold” is particularly appropriate now, as the world gears up for the next Olympics. Athletes from all over the world are training for their opportunity to go for the gold and show that they are the best. For many of them, it will be their only Olympiad; their only…
Read MoreEffective Fundraising Techniques
1. Be Kind. 2. Be Courteous and Compassionate. 3. Listen to the Donor! When asking people for large amounts of money, it’s crucial to follow proper fundraising etiquette. As development professionals, we must have a great deal of poise, polish, and tact. We have very personal discussions with prospects about very significant investments in our…
Read MoreUpgrade Your Campaign Executive Committee Meetings
Your campaign executive committee is the heart and soul of your capital campaign. Keeping these volunteers informed, inspired, motivated, and enthusiastic can make or break your campaign effort. Read on to learn how you can ensure that your campaign meetings are interesting, informative, productive, and positive. How to Improve Your Campaign Executive Committee Meetings At…
Read MoreMajor Gift Calls: Get What You Came For
What should you do when someone gives you $250,000? Well, that depends on who it is, how much was asked of them, and why they gave it to you! The answer to this question varies with the circumstances surrounding this major gift call. Obviously, no matter what the circumstances, you want to thank this person…
Read MoreGarnering Major Gifts
It’s very common to find that more than 75% of all funds raised in a capital campaign come from major gifts, or contributions of $25,000 and above. A steadfast focus on major gifts is the hallmark of a successful capital campaign, and a strategy that yields rich dividends far beyond the campaign’s life. The Pareto…
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