I have a motive, and it is a bequest.
Yes, I have a motive, and it is a bequest. As a young woman with no children, I have already created my estate plans. Yes, I have. And while those I love will be taken care of as they should. There is a time after they are gone when my assets…
Insanity? Creating a fundraising plan without conducting an audit.
When developing a fundraising plan, I am often asked whether or not, I can skip the development audit analysis. And, I arguably say "no!"A fundraising audit is probably the most critical stage of the entire planning process looking at where…
A Case Study: Donor Acquisition – It Does Work!
This week, I had a conversation with one of my very first clients. And, I wanted to share their success story. You see, too many groups don't want to invest in donor acquisition because they know that they will lose money - in the short-term.…
Younger people want to give, but can’t!
Younger donors don't give as much. You can chase the Millennials and the generation whatever's, but if you don't take into consideration the family life cycle, then you are misdirecting your energies.What is the family life cycle I hear…
Hello, are you really listening to me?
We are all so very guilty of appearing to listen to someone, but yet already forming a reply in our head..You know, you are sitting with a donor and rather than listening, you are rehearsing what your response may be.Are you missing some…
A great time for bequests, but are you ready?
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the number of people dying in the United States will double in the next forty years. WOW!Hard to read, but surely reality. And, sometimes reality is stark.The Baby Boomers will soon be facing…
It’s all in the asking! Rehearse well before your next major gift ask.
Yep. You can go through the motions with your donor, but if you don't A S K, you don't G E T. Simple as that.So, where do you even start?Each donor is an individual. And, being an individual, he or she needs an individualized strategy -…
What is cultivation really about?
Cultivate, cultivate, cultivate. The way we talk about donors sometimes makes me think that we are in relationships. And, in a sense, I guess we are.Cultivation, what is it?Well for one, it's about learning more about a donor and his or…
The importance of gift range charts to major giving
There are two things that you need to consider when developing a major gift strategy. The first is deciding on what level of gift you want to solicit in person, and the second is prioritizing the list of prospects from the screening process…
How to qualify major gift prospects
The world is full of prospects. Now who to see first. Well, those that are most likely to make an individual donation.Without a crystal ball, how do you even begin to determine those most likely to make a donation?Well, first you look at…
Are you wishing on a capital campaign?
Oh no! We need a new building. The offer letter is on the table.What now? We need money!But wait, we haven't done any fundraising in the past. We need millions tomorrow to move into our new facility and to make all the necessary upgrades.…
Are you asking for money? Or inviting investors in your nonprofit organisation?
What is the old saying, "You say it 'potato' and I say it is ..."Unfortunately, when it comes to donors, I don't think you can splice words.Are we asking for money? Asking for support?Or are we thinking about this relationship differently…
