Major Gifts
Nightmare or Rosy Dream — Database Management for Fundraising
The Nightmare: All of the clothing you have ever owned in your entire lifetime is in piles on the floor of your walk-in closet, unfolded and disorganized. Socks, shoes, tights, jogging pants, underwear, pajamas, shirts, tank-tops, t-shirts, shorts, ties, earrings, rings, hats and coats, everywhere. The pile is chest-deep. You have to get dressed. You…
Read MoreHow to Write a Great Apology Letter
Maybe you send a donor an acknowledgement letter for a gift in memory of his son—who happens to be alive and well. Or you mistakenly drop a longtime patron from the invitation list for a gala event. You might send a donor a thank-you letter for a $50 gift, but she gave $50,000. How do…
Read MoreMaking 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 MoreMajor Gift Fundraising with Fraternity Alumni
What really motivates donors? The Omega chapter of Alpha Beta Theta is clearly worthy of support, but brothers won’t give simply because the Fraternity is worthy, they will give because of their own needs. For every donor, there are personal rewards associated with making a gift. Your job is to help the potential donor explore…
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…
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