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... Recently I consulted with a woman named Mary. Although she has been the director of development at her organization for four years, she had never asked for a major gift. And even though … [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...]
Thinking Beyond Cash: How to Ask for Blended Gifts
Major gift fundraising is about helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals. Of course, it’s about achieving your mission, too. But it’s important to remember the purpose from the prospective of your donor. And many donors would like to do more for your mission than they think they can -- which would, of course, benefit your … [Read more...]
How Raising Major Gifts is Like a Marriage Proposal… Slow and Steady
Heading into Valentine’s Day, there will be countless marriage proposals. However, most of these proposals will not be spontaneous -- they will be well planned, and carefully executed events. The “proposer” has probably made arrangements for a memorable occasion -- at a minimum, reservations at a favorite or fancy restaurant. It’s likely … [Read more...]
5 Years From Now: Looking into Your Future and Your Donors’ Futures
Recently I hosted a webinar called, How to Make Better Fundraising Asks… and Get Donors to Say “Yes”! (You can catch the replay here.) In the webinar, I talked about how it’s important for donors to feel great about their donations so that they continue to give again and again. As a fundraiser, it’s important for you to think about the 3rd, … [Read more...]
How to Best Engage Mid-Value Donors: Interview with Kimberly Blease
Interested in growing your mid-level donor income? Watch this interview with Kimberly Blease, VP of Client Relationships at Blakely, to learn how to best communicate with mid-level donors so they feel more involved and engaged. The full interview transcript (with minor edits for clarity) appears below. Mid-Value Donors … [Read more...]
Find Hidden Gems in Your Donor Database: Interview with Steven Shattuck
Who's hiding in your donor database? In this video interview with Steven Shattuck, Bloomerang's Chief Engagement Officer, you'll discover how to find all those hidden gems in your donor database. Here's what to look for... The full interview transcript (with minor edits for clarity) appears below. Finding Diamond-in-the-Rough … [Read more...]
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