One of my favorite volunteer activities in the nonprofit sector is serving on the Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s Growth in Giving Steering Committee. The face-to-face meetings and conference calls are always insightful and thought provoking. This is especially true when those insights are cutting edge and timely in nature. This week’s [...]
You may not care one bit about professional football. Even if you do, you probably aren’t overly concerned about the off-season trades and signings of multi-millionaire players. This blog post isn’t going to convince you otherwise. However, I recently read a detailing of the lengths that the Minnesota Vikings leadership [...]
Potential major gift donors (like all donors) have philanthropic motivations. But have you asked them what they are? As a fundraiser, the way you build trust with donors is by getting to know them. The best way to do that is by asking them questions. Do you know: why they [...]
Capacity matters in fundraising. That might be the most obvious thing for any fundraiser. People will give what they're capable of giving. But time and time again, organizations I work with talk about having trouble filling their major gift pipeline, upgrading donors over time, or making any headway with lapsed [...]
Soliciting new donors, much like growing your major gifts portfolios and upgrading mid-level donors to give more, should also start with those you already know. Prospects can be hiding in plain sight. It is after you’ve culled through your existing list that you should, then, utilize proven strategies to find [...]
If you are a regular reader of this blog or any fundraising blog for that matter, the subject of “Major Gifts” is one of the most common. From researching the best prospects to building the relationship to making the “Ask," major gift actions are explored from every angle. However, two [...]
Data is essential for successful fundraising, especially when it comes to raising major gifts. That's why I developed a super comprehensive survey to study the current trends and opportunities in major gift fundraising -- but I need your help! You can help by simply completing the online survey. It should [...]
Today we continue with a 3-part series about the most cost-effective way to fundraise -- major gifts from individuals. In Part 1 we covered the basics, including why major gifts are so important and how to identify your best prospects. In Part 2 we covered the important process to qualify [...]
Today we continue with a 3-part series about the most cost-effective way to fundraise -- major gifts from individuals. In Part 1 we covered the basics, including the reason you really should do this. Why? Because studies show over 88% of all funds raised come from just 12% of donors. [...]
Today we begin with a 3-part series about the most cost-effective way to fundraise -- Major gifts from individuals. Not foundations. Not businesses. Not events. Studies show over 88% of all funds raised come from just 12% of donors. You get a huge bang for your buck from an individual major gifts program [...]
One might think that gift range charts are just for large projects such as capital campaigns or for significant fundraising efforts. And, while, yes, there is some truth to that, gift range charts can be used effectively in even the smallest of fundraising shops. A gift range chart will tell you [...]
You’ve heard it from a multitude of sources: fundraising success depends on contact with donors. Picking up the phone, scheduling the appointment, then having a meaningful visit all matter. But what about after the contact has been made? What information did we learn that matters with regard to moving the [...]