Major Gifts
7 Essentials for Fundraising Success
With all of the people, problems, and politics that clamor for our time and mental energy, each day can be hectic. In the midst of the hubbub of daily life in the fundraising world, it’s important to take an occasional step back. Remember to look at how you can be strategic in shaping your organization…
Read MoreFinding Major Gift Prospects
Everyone knows someone who is capable of making a major gift. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard trustees and volunteers tell me they don’t know anyone capable of a gift of $25,000 or more. Images are conjured up of mansions, exotic sports cars, and lavish lifestyles. “I don’t run in those circles,” they…
Read MoreFielding Solicitors for a Campaign Team
Introduction Just as sports teams are built around the players’ abilities and strengths, so too are campaign teams. And when a team needs a particular skill or asset, the coaches can either try to develop it among their current players or, more likely, recruit or draft for that ability. The four fundamentals of a campaign…
Read MoreBecause You Can
Success is relative, but perfection is precise! What for one organization or person would be an extraordinary performance, for another is disappointing. It’s all relative to the standard with which something is compared. Years ago, I participated in a panel discussion during a board retreat for a very well respected regional arts festival. They were…
Read MoreBe Kind, Even When They Say No
If the first rule of fundraising is to ask, the second is to be kind about it. An organization should develop a true conviction of its worth and the services provided to others. Fundraisers should never solicit “hat in hand.” However, they should also never presume that a prospective donor has any obligation to give.…
Read MoreHow to Balance Nonprofit Needs and Resources
Nonprofit organizations invariably suffer from limited resources and a small staff trying to do the work of many. The resulting workload, as well as the personal connection many executives feel toward the group’s mission, can cause staff members to focus their attention within distinct boundaries. True objectivity can be clouded by fierce loyalty and passion…
Read MoreEffective Volunteer Management in a Campaign Setting
Effective volunteer management is at the core of a successful fundraising campaign. Volunteers represent a critical element for a variety of reasons. No one can tell the organization’s story better than a volunteer. They are often someone who has benefited from the organization, and can speak first-hand about the need filled by the group. They…
Read MoreBack to Basics – Keeping it Personal in an Age of Technology
Fundraising is the art of relationship building. People give to people, and people don’t give unless they are asked—that’s Fundraising 101. But in an increasingly technological world, these basic, indelible rules are sometimes forgotten.
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