“Oh, you’re one of those people who care about the black squiggly marks,” the Director of Development told me.
Simplicity May Be Complicated, but It’s Key
You can’t believe how hard it is for people to be simple, how much they fear being simple. They worry that if they’re simple, people will think they’re simpleminded. In reality, of course, it’s just the reverse. ~ Jack Welch, CEO, General Electric
“Get a Charitable Deduction Now for a Gift You Make Later”
It’s hard to explain how a Donor Advised Fund works to a donor. And when you try, they’re yawning. This creative marketing copy helps them get the point.
Pigeon Poop. Lear Jets. Planned Giving Newsletters. Direct Mail. And More …
A direct mail campaign that’s not so vanilla. Only in the for-profit world. Would you have had the stomach for it?
I Did Not Know This Planned Gift Existed
A donor can donate a house, get a deduction, live there for life, and receive an annuity from the donation for life. Hmm … does not sound right.
Marketing, Boy Meets Girl & Planned Giving
I am amused when a client hires us and then tells us what to do. My favorite inquiry is, “We’d like to send out a planned giving postcard and see if something will happen.”
Planned Giving Stories Motivate Others to Give
Are you nurturing your donors? One way to do it is by asking them to tell their story. People like to talk about themselves. It’s natural.
What We’re Up To These Days
Some people in our industry have made planned giving so moribund that they can put a cat on speed to sleep. Vendors included.
Dumb Ways To Seek Donations
Are you relying on dumb ways to seek donations? A few years ago, a darkly humorous Australian public service ad to promote railway safety went viral. Called “Dumb Ways to Die,” the campaign was set to a catchy song with lyrics including, Set fire to your hair. Poke a stick at a grizzly bear. Eat […]
“I am too busy to think about planned giving”
Too busy? Or are you placing Planned Giving on the back burner, again? So many fundraisers make excuses, claiming they’ve placed planned giving on the back-burner because of tight budgets, smaller staffs and not enough time. Bull. There’s an underlying reason that none of us wants to acknowledge: Four years ago we asked fundraisers […]