Professional Fundraising
The Campaign Office – Nerve Center of Your Campaign
One of the very first activities of any capital campaign is setting up a central administrative and operations center for the campaign – the campaign office. While this may seem rudimentary, it has been my experience this is also one of the least understood aspects of setting up a capital campaign in most organizations. When…
Read MoreThe Campaign Cabinet Gets the Campaign Moving
Your nonprofit organization has decided to take the plunge and begin a capital campaign to raise $5 to $6 million. You have just retained Custom Development Solutions (CDS) to direct your Feasibility Study to help determine the timing and size of the campaign. Now you’ll begin to use the capital campaign plan which was the…
Read MoreThe Big Gift — The Impossible Dream, or Is It?
Non-profit organizations spend most of their time responding to immediate pressures and crises, focusing a great deal on the short term. It seems as though time spent dreaming about huge contributions is a luxury many development professionals cannot afford. Nonetheless, focusing on the day-to-day needs of the organization should not prevent you from planning for…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Bringing an Outsider Inside Your World
There are any number of reasons why a not-for-profit organization should retain fundraising counsel for their capital campaign. Having an experienced resident director guide you through the pitfalls of capital fundraising can be the secret to success. A decision to not get additional help can place your campaign, and therefore the growth of your organization,…
Read MoreThe Ask — There is a Way to Ask, and then there is a RIGHT WAY to Ask
Perhaps the most critical part of a capital campaign is ‘‘the ask’’ing process, especially with major gifts. Each solicitation is an opportunity to close another great gift, but it is also possible to make some critical errors. We have all made the mistake of low-balling a potential prospect with an “ask” that was too easy…
Read MoreThe 5.4 Percent Solution
How much should foundations have to give to charity? More than they do.
Read MoreThanking Donors – Once Is Never Enough
I came across an old Chinese custom once that said you should thank someone seven times when they give you a gift. As a fundraiser, I thought this was a great standard to which we should hold our efforts. In our business, there are few things more important than recognizing our donors.
Read MoreThanking Corporations
Few things are more important in development than recognizing and thanking donors. Proper donor recognition paves the way for successive, larger contributions. Good stewardship fosters a stronger relationship between the organization and the donor. It is also just the right thing to do. Non-profit organizations rely on charitable gifts for the completion of their missions,…
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