In his bestselling book, Influence, Robert Cialdini changed the way professionals in sales and acquisitions understand the science of persuasion. In fundraising, there are many parallels to these professions and fundraising professionals can learn much from this business classic to improve an organization’s relationships with donors and increase year to year income performance. Over the …
The most successful fundraising organizations inspire gifts from diverse sources of income. The traditional breakdown of these sources is through direct and/or digital mail, major gifts and planned gifts. Most nonprofits raise funds through direct and major gifts while many delay or neglect planned gifts. There are many reasons for this but the most common …
How Planned Giving Can Enhance Your Fundraising Program Read More »
Being a major gift solicitor takes courage. It is not easy to look across a table at someone you barely know and ask them to give you tens of thousands (if not in some cases millions) of dollars in support of an intangible good. These gifts, which have built libraries, cured cancer, reduced poverty and …
The recent social distance requirements in response to Covid19 have presented major gift fundraisers numerous challenges. Interpersonal relationships are the foundation of strong and growing major gifts programs. If major gift officers are unable to meet donors in person it could create obstacles that at best slows that process down and at worse prevents relationships …
One of the great privileges of being a fundraiser is that you have the opportunity to engage with many interesting and generous individuals. These are individuals that are accomplished professionally and equally passionate about the organizations we represent. Why, then, do so many fundraisers make the mistake of making donor engagements about themselves and the organizations they …
In the spring of 2014 Admiral William H. McRaven gave the commencement address at his alma mater, the University of Texas. His inspiring remarks touched on 10 different life lessons he had learned during his time training to become a Navy Seal. However, it was the first lesson he shared that made the biggest impression on his …
Can Making Our Bed Ensure A More Successful Experience in Quarantine? Read More »
Every year around this time people all over the country begin to sweat and fidget and possibly even become a little faint as they realize that an important deadline is approaching. Those people had better get to work completing their annual tax returns or else they might get an uncomfortable visit or call from the …
As we approach the midway point of the calendar year it is a good time to check on the status of the goals you set this year. Whether your organization follows a calendar year or July to June budget the month of June is a great time to be checking progress (calendar) or setting a …
Earlier this month CCS Fundraising published its annual A Guide to Philanthropy in the US. America continues to be a very generous country with more than $427 billion contributed to worthy charities during 2018. The report highlights numerous areas in development that are noteworthy from increased volunteerism (up 21% since 2016) to decreases in giving to …
In the world of financial planning the concept of having a diversified financial portfolio is so common it is almost cliché. If you are managing or have an advisor who is managing your money it is highly unlikely that all of those funds are being invested in a single kind of investment fund. Most financial …