Before you can ask for a major gift, you need to focus on gratitude. Stop thinking of your donors as ATM machines and really focus on them as people. Think about what they do for your organization. They don’t simply give money. They save lives. They feed the hungry and house the homeless. They educate children. They help cure … [Read more...]
How Big is a Major Gift?
Congratulations on making the commitment to take the Major Gifts Challenge! If you missed the first post, click the link below: Be Rich and Famous: Take the Major Gifts Challenge Are you ready to start raising major gifts? Good! What is a Major Gift? The first step is to define what a “Major Gift” is for you. The term major gift … [Read more...]
Be Rich and Famous: Take the Major Gifts Challenge
Do you want the opportunity to skyrocket your career while learning how to solicit major gifts? Be rich: In less than a year, you can increase your organization's annual fund by 10%, 20%, 100% or more. Be famous: In 12 month's time, you can be revered by your boss, board members and colleagues. If becoming a rich and famous all-star … [Read more...]
Are You Burning Bridges with Your Donors?
You've been raising funds. You're organization is beginning to thrive. You're feeling good. But what you may not realize is that there's a fire licking at your heels. If you haven't been properly thanking your donors, the bridge between you and them is about to become a raging inferno! So, are you burning bridges with your donors? … [Read more...]
Rehearse Before Asking and Watch Your Donations Soar
One of my more popular speaking topics is about overcoming the “fear of asking” or learning how to ask for gifts in more effective, efficient ways. If you want to improve your success rate and/or comfort level with asking individuals for contributions to your organization, you need to practice. The subject of money is taboo in our … [Read more...]
Show Your Donors Some Love and Reap the Rewards
Last week I attended the Gift Planning Council of New Jersey’s annual conference. I wish you could have been there with me. It reinforced my belief that even small shops can raise a ton of money. Here are some terrific tips from the conference for you to implement today! Focus on Gifts that Don’t Impact Cash Flow Are you actively soliciting … [Read more...]
How to Raise Money Even When Your Board Won’t Help
Wouldn’t it be great if your board members were enthusiastic, passionate, and committed to fundraising for your organization? While the organizations I work with see significant movement of board members toward this ideal, many organizations don't take the time or resources to train board members properly. If this is the reality at your … [Read more...]
Scared to Ask? Getting Started with Face-to-Face Fundraising
Are you scared to ask? If so, you’re not alone. As a nonprofit consultant, I spend a large part of my time teaching volunteers and nonprofit professionals how to ask, as well as how to overcome their fear of fundraising. Scared to Ask: Getting Started with Face-to-Face Fundraising is the topic for my session at the upcoming International AFP … [Read more...]
A New Resource for Donor-Centered Planned Giving
As a consultant, I try to stress the importance of having a planned giving program to all of my clients, regardless of the size or capacity of the nonprofit I’m working with. However, other priorities often get moved to the top of the list and planned giving gets moved to the back burner. But it doesn't have to... Looking at Planned Giving … [Read more...]
Creating a 60 Day Fundraising Plan: Days 1-15
A friend and colleague, who happens to be the new executive director of a nonprofit that's in financial trouble, called me and asked me to help him develop an "emergency" 60 day fundraising plan. The board hired him, in part, because the organization is in trouble and he’s going to try to turn things around. Hopefully you're not in as dire … [Read more...]
