Professional Fundraising
Volunteers: What Can They Do For You Today?
Volunteers are of huge value to nonprofit organizations. Recent studies estimate that about a hundred million people volunteer each year with an annual value in the range of $150 billion. Not only do volunteers help to save money, but they can provide better service to clients, increase contact with the greater community, make available better…
Read MoreTwo Tips for Creating Especially Special Events
As a fundraising consultant, I have spent a lifetime trying to help organizations move from a ‘special events’ fundraising mentality towards a more personal and professional program of major gifts solicitation. Clearly, if there are limited time and scarce resources, the systematic cultivation of major gifts is the most productive and effective means to realize…
Read MoreTransparency as a Fundraising Tool
At GuideStar, we believe that transparency is vital to the health of the nonprofit sector. What do we mean by transparency? Borrowing from Webster’s, we mean the state of being “free from pretense or deceit.” For charities, that means being open about programs and finances and readily sharing that information with donors, funders, regulators, and the general…
Read MoreTransformative Gifts, Unique Recognition Motivates Donors
Campaigns to raise funds for a CAT scan, an MRI or even a bus may not seem like the most romantic or exciting opportunities to offer donors. After all, a piece of equipment isn’t an ideal. According to David G. Phillips, president of the fundraising consulting firm Custom Development Solutions (Mount Pleasant, SC), approaching donors…
Read MoreTen Back-shop Questions to Ask Before a Campaign
Coordinating the operational side of a capital campaign fundraising effort is like pushing a big rock up a huge hill – it’s a tremendous amount of effort to get everything started, and once that rock goes over the top, it accelerates quickly and doesn’t slow down. Some initial planning can put you in much greater…
Read MoreReturn on Investment in Philanthropy
Many Boards and non-profits spend unprofitable time agonizing about return on investment in fundraising. The cost per dollar raised can range on average from 10 cents to 90 cents. Yet, the IRS is disturbed that 25% of all non-profits filing 990s, and reporting contributions of $500,000 or more annually, report $0 (Yes, that’s “Zero!”) on…
Read MoreTo Dig or not to Dig
Non-profit organizations face many questions as they consider major capital projects. Recognizing a strategic need is sometimes the easiest step. Expansion projects are often funded through a variety of financial avenues: bond financing, government funds, foundation grants and private fundraising. Many organizations such as hospitals and universities must integrate large construction projects into their campuses…
Read MoreThe Need to Be Clear
Top 10 Effective Fundraising Rules Rule #1: Always approach prospective donors with two carefully trained people, at least one of whom should be a social and/or business peer of the prospective donor. Rule #2: When you solicit a gift, you need to be crystal clear—especially as it relates to the amount of money you are…
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