Give and Take

Gifts for Legacy Society Members
Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

Gifts for Donors or Legacy Society Members

Personally, I don’t want another paperweight, it just makes my trashcan heavier. But if someone brought me the best baklava money can buy, that would go in my belly quickly — and be greatly appreciated. So what are some of the best gifts your nonprofit can send to legacy society members and other key donors? Here are some ideas.

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Non-Profit Endowments
Effective fundraising
Viken Mikaelian

Well-Managed Oil and Gas Interests Can Fuel Non-Profit Endowments

Your donor gave you an in-kind gift that you thought had nominal value, but when it was appraised, it was worth a lot more? This kind of pleasant surprise is not uncommon for charities that accept in-kind gifts of oil and gas interests. Non-profit endowments benefit when they accept more than just cash gifts.

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Postcards From the Edge of Agita
Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

Postcards From the Edge of Fundraising Agita

How do you thank your alumni donors? We give them gifts. Every year. These can range from the mundane (a printed calendar) to the ridiculous (a bobble-head doll), to the more expensive-and-mundane (an engraved glass mug or paperweight.) Here’s how to end the agita and understand how to best steward and recognize your alumni givers.

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Do-It-Yourself Analytics to Boost Planned Giving AND the Annual Fund
Sustainability
Viken Mikaelian

Do-It-Yourself Fundraising Analytics to Boost Planned Giving AND the Annual Fund

Fundraising analytics are important for the health of your non-profit’s development program. Without basic wealth and demographic information, you won’t be able to effectively fundraise from those in your non-profit’s CRM. If your database doesn’t provide basic fundraising analytics, you can, with a little work, do it yourself. Here’s how to do it effectively.

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Finding Your Best Planned Giving Prospects
Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

Finding Your Best Planned Giving Prospects

Whether you’re kicking off a fledgling planned giving program or you’re comfortably positioned with a legacy society, it doesn’t take a data scientist to help you find your best prospects. It DOES, however, start with your donor data. This blog explains why data is essential.

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Donors Don’t Just Give; They Invest
Bequests
Viken Mikaelian

Donors Don’t Just Give; They Invest in a Nonprofit

Donors like to do more than just give — they like to feel like they are investing in the nonprofits they support. Investing means feeling like they are part of the organization and partially responsible for its success. If you want donors to give more to your organization, you need to find ways to help them feel as though they are investing, not simply making a donation.

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Whining is Good for Donor Retention
Relationships
Jeb Banner

Did You Know – Whining is Good for Donor Retention?

Did anyone ever tell you, “Quit your whining?” Complaining is practically second nature for most of us, and some people have been known to raise it to an art form. The thing is, no one likes a whiner, right? Well, think again. In this article, you’ll learn why letting your donors complain can actually be GOOD for your donor retention efforts!

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How Collaboration builds a better team
Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

How Collaboration Builds a Better Fundraising Team

Collaboration draws upon the unique skillsets of individuals to achieve a common goal among a group. But for specialization to work, teaming up (aka, collaboration) with others who have complementary skills is critical. And I am happy to see that’s becoming the norm in philanthropy. Putting processes in place to increase collaboration at your non-profit will help you build a stronger fundraising team.

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That’s No Way to Treat a Donor
Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

That’s No Way to Treat a Donor

Like dating, you have an ongoing relationship with your donors, and there is a right way and a wrong way to treat a donor— to keep them happy; to show you truly appreciate them; to “keep the romance alive.” Here’s how to treat your donors the right way to make sure they keep giving again and again!

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A $500 Million Estate And No Estate Plan
Bequests
Viken Mikaelian

A $500 Million Estate …. And No Estate Plan

Did you hear that former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh died intestate? Now his family, friends, and business associates are apparently fighting over a bunch of deals and agreements that were scribbled on thousands of sticky notes plastered all over the walls of his Utah mansion. Don’t make the same mistake. Don’t die without an estate plan that keeps your legacy intact!

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