Professional Fundraising
The Seductive Lure of Creative Compensation
The only sound in the boardroom is the faint ticking of a wall clock. The hospital CEO has just made an offer of employment to the top fund raising candidate.
Read MoreCapital Campaign Essentials: The Publicity Plan
There are four essential elements to every successful capital campaign. In our Capital Campaign Essentials series, we provide a quick overview of each of these four elements so that you can successfully grow your organization’s fundraising influence. This article focuses on the critical importance of a publicity plan in a capital campaign. Check out our…
Read MoreThe Psychology of Capital Campaign Gift Giving
Capital campaigns are set off from other fund-raising projects because they simply require larger gifts. The capital campaign goal is usually extraordinary and requires extraordinary gifts. But, capital campaign funding strategy is abnormal. Normal is annual fund giving or special event giving. We call it transactional or traditional fund raising. I ask, you give; you…
Read MoreCapital Campaign Essentials: Major Gift Prospects
There are four essential elements to every successful capital campaign. In our Capital Campaign Essentials series, we provide a quick overview of each of these four elements so that you can successfully grow your organization’s fundraising influence. This article focuses on the process for identifying and soliciting individual major gift prospects in a capital campaign.…
Read MoreThe Power of Thank You in Fundraising and in Life
“I was in line at the grocery store the other day. The cashier was really rude to people. When it was my turn, I handed her my money, she grabbed it, gave me my change, and that was it. I couldn’t help myself. I asked, ‘Would it kill you to at least say thank you?’…
Read MoreThe Power of a Positive Suggestion for a Fundraising Gift
Asking for money is, for many people, one of the most difficult things to do. For those of us involved with not-for-profit organizations, however, it is a critical task. We have to continually work to identify and assess new prospects. We must also hone our skills as solicitors. Even the most experienced fundraiser needs to…
Read MoreThe Major Gift Visit – Firing for Effect
Major gifts are the key to successful fund-raising. Major gifts take many forms, often depending on the needs, the goal and the method of solicitation. For the purposes of this discussion, major gifts are the top gifts in a capital campaign that comprise at least 60% of the funds raised. Typically, major gifts in a…
Read MoreCampaign Committee Prospect Evaluation
Prospect evaluation during the early parts of a capital campaign is perhaps one of the most awkward activities. The key is to have a well-developed strategy that demystifies the process, puts the campaign volunteers at ease, and draws out clear conclusions about which prospects represent the greatest potential for support. The benefits reaped from candid…
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