Building on Common Ground

There are an infinite variety of not-for-profit organizations in the world. Every cause imaginable has seen a charity or foundation created by its advocates. As I talk to representatives from a wide slice of these groups, I am struck by the fact that their needs and goals are far more similar than dissimilar. Successful fund…

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Building an Annual Campaign

This is the second article in a two-part series on starting and building annual giving programs. Many of the methods used for annual giving are the same as those used for major gift solicitations, just on a different scale. Development is all about building friendships.

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Capital 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.…

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Campaign 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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Professional Fees

There are not many barriers to entry to the fundraising consulting profession.  New people hang out a shingle every day. Some have considerable experience, yet many do not.  All you need is a phone, and/or a website, a laptop and voila, you are and expert—perhaps working in the neighborhood Starbucks as your office.  That is…

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Setting Realistic Goals in Your Fundraising

It is vital to establish realistic fundraising goals based on sound research and thorough planning. Realistic goals reflect both the organization’s understanding of its financial structure and its capability to challenge existing and prospective donors. To learn more about financial goal setting for your campaign, check out our related article. Setting Realistic Fundraising Goals Start…

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Capital Campaign Essentials: The Case Statement

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 defining a case and teaching you how to build a case statement. Check out…

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