Are you risk-averse? If trying something new gives you butterflies in your stomach and stops you in your tracks, you're likely risk-averse. Many fundraiser's are. Some people have an immediate and negative reaction to trying new things. And sometimes, their cautious natures are warranted. But often they’re not. So when Seth Godin … [Read more...]
An Effective Major Gifts Plan Template: Just 4 Simple Steps
I’m regularly asked for a major gifts plan template. Over the years, I’ve worked to refine the process and make it as simple as possible. Here’s a major gift plan template broken down into 4 steps: Major Gifts Plan Template in 4 Steps Identify the best prospective donors for your organization. Build relationships with those donors and … [Read more...]
The Minimalist Guide to Planned Giving: Just 3 Simple Steps
The very idea of planned giving can seem overwhelming. Complicated new tax laws, combined with unfamiliar acronyms like CRAT and CRUT, not to mention strange sounding vehicles like Charitable Gift Annuities… it’s enough to make your head spin! And that just scratches the surface. Planned Giving Can Make Your Head Spin There are so many … [Read more...]
4 Unquestionable Major Gift Fundraising Metrics to Accelerate Your Program
You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t know when you’ve arrived.” And that holds doubly true when raising major gifts. In order to accelerate your major gift fundraising program, it’s essential to define what a major gift is at your organization (no, it's not the same at every organization) and … [Read more...]
How to Listen Your Way to Raising a Major Gift by Asking for Advice
There’s a popular expression in fundraising: Ask for money and you’ll get advice, but ask for advice and you’ll get money. The expression is a euphemism for “getting to know your donors.” It reminds us not to ask too soon. In other words, if you ask for money right away, you might get an earful -- the donor will tell you all the reasons … [Read more...]
Misconceptions: Annual Fund vs. Capital Campaign, Restricted Gifts vs. Unrestricted Gifts
The other day, a client asked if the major gifts she raises should count toward her annual fund goal. At first, I was confused by her question. But it reinforced one of the more common misconceptions about raising major gifts. Common Misconceptions About Raising Major Gifts It turns out that the woman who wondered whether major gifts … [Read more...]
Women Fundraisers: You’re Just One Ask Away from Raising Major Gifts
Attention Women Fundraisers! You CAN raise major gifts! I know this because I’ve seen it... again, and again and again. One Ask is All it Takes... Last week I received a call from a woman named Mary who recently took my online course, Mastering Major Gifts. Although she has been the director of development at her organization for four … [Read more...]
9 Ways to Engage and Motivate Your Board Members to Raise Money
Recently I provided a webinar for Candid (formerly GuideStar and the Foundation Center) called, How to Engage Board Members in Fundraising in 15 Minutes per Month (recording available here). There were a number of great questions at the end of the webinar. I promised the attendees I would respond in a blog post. This is that post, and I … [Read more...]
How to Leave a Lasting Legacy: Your Donors and You!
For just a moment, give some thought to this question: How will you be remembered? Sophisticated donors think about what type of legacy they want to leave when considering their philanthropy. If they have a family foundation, they may do a lot of thinking, talking and discussing what type of mark they want to leave on the world. These … [Read more...]
Listen Your Way to a Major Gift and Your Donors Will Give with Joy
Experienced major gift officers will tell you they listen their way to major gifts. Unfortunately, many development directors think the opposite -- that they need to talk their way into a major gift. What’s important to remember is that fundraising is NOT about convincing, cajoling or guilting your donors to make a gift. When Fundraising … [Read more...]
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