It’s easy to feel excluded from grantmaking opportunities during a time of crisis. Perhaps you feel that your mission doesn’t align with the prevailing narrative. Or perhaps you’re worried that you will alienate donors with an ask. Either way, hesitation is causing many nonprofits to miss out. Don’t let hesitation [...]
Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE, our very own Fundraising Coach, also known as Charity Clairity. Today's question comes from a fundraiser who wants to raise major gifts to support operations. Dear Charity Clairity, I would love to do major gifts. I [...]
Individual giving is the backbone of a diversified fundraising program, with over 70% of all charitable gifts made by individuals. And, major gifts are the ultimate in transformational engagement. What many may not realize is that major gifts can be done in any sized fundraising shop. The misnomer that you [...]
What about counting the ways for your donors this year? Or at least for a subset of your donors who have the potential to give you the lion’s share of your philanthropy? We talk a lot in the sector about donor love and gratitude, but how do we practice it? [...]
Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE, our very own Fundraising Coach, also known as Charity Clairity. Today's question comes from a fundraiser who is being pressured to ask board members to once again tap their networks. Dear Charity Clairity, We need new [...]
In Part 1 of this two-part series on handling donor resistance we covered some of the reasons hesitations and objections are normal, and nothing to be feared. Rather, they present an opportunity to get to know your donor prospect better and potentially forge an even stronger relationship. There is one [...]
Sometimes when working with major donor prospects they say “yes” right away. More often, they don’t. You may not get an outright “no” (in fact, usually you won’t), yet you’ll get a hesitation or what we call major donor resistance. As in: No, not now. No, not you. No, not [...]
Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE, our very own Fundraising Coach, also known as Charity Clairity. Today's question comes from a fundraiser who is isn't sure if they should invest in building their major gifts program or their mid-level donor program. Dear [...]
Recently, in “New Year’s Resolution: Prioritize Major Gifts, Beginning in the Donor Database," I wrote about why you need to focus your resources on major gift fundraising this year. Not so much from businesses and foundations. But from individuals. Because that’s where the lion’s share of all philanthropy comes from. [...]
It’s that time of year when resolutions are often made. Whether or not you’re a fan of the resolution-making practice for you, personally, there’s something to be said for striving to be better. Especially when others (beneficiaries of your mission) are relying on you! I’m going to suggest a few [...]
In the fourth quarter of each year the National Philanthropic Trust releases their annual Donor Advised Funds Report.  This is significant for every nonprofit engaged in fundraising to take notice because donor advised funds or DAFs for short, are truly changing the landscape of major gift fundraising and therefore [...]
Do you have a major gift program, but not a planned or legacy gift program? Do you focus time and energy on planned giving prospects but not major gift prospects? Or perhaps you have the latter but not the former? Do you wonder if there’s really a distinguishing difference between [...]