Posts Tagged ‘capital campaigns’
The 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,…
Read MoreA Major Fundraising Capital Campaign –Take Your Marks, Get Set, and Go!
Preparing for a major fundraising campaign can be a momentous process in the life of a non-profit organization. Board members, executives, and professionals are excited and probably more than a little anxious as they consider how best to begin the complicated and important process of raising major capital commitments. The objective viewpoint of experienced campaign…
Read MoreSubmitting New Proposals to Foundations: Letter, Inquiry or Proposal?
We have all heard it before when planning for a major capital fund drive: “We’ll get lots of money from foundations and grants!” Of course, there are varying degrees of truth in that declaration. While they can make some substantial gifts, foundations in general account for less than 10% of all charitable giving in America.…
Read MoreStrategic Planning Puts Business On The Road To Success
With all the emphasis on change these days, why in the world would an organization want to create a five-year strategic plan? Ask most business people and they’ll concede that they can’t predict what will happen in the next quarter, let alone several years from now.
Read MoreStarting an Annual Giving Program
I know that fundraising is my vocation because I can never pass up an opportunity to contribute to an organization’s development efforts. Such was the case with a fledgling not-for-profit group to which I belong. They are a dedicated support group for families of children born with a certain birth defect. Their president is a…
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