Fundraisers can make “civilians” a little nervous when they’re around. What comments do you get when you tell folks what you do? “Ugh, I could never ask strangers for money!” “Well, I hope you didn’t bring your begging bowl with you tonight – this is a friendly party.”
Making Mid-Level Prospects into Major Givers With “Legacy Life Giving”
Tom Ligare and his colleagues at Planned Giving Marketing Solutions, LLC are promoting a gift type that helps build long-term endowment by making it easier for mid-level donors to engage in major giving. We decided to find out more about it…
Ever Heard a Kamikaze Success Story?
I don’t think so. If you think “having no limits” is part of your job description, think again. Everybody has limits. Even fundraisers.
Gone Without Trace: Man Bequeaths $2 Million to Uncle Sam
I don’t think any of us would be in this business if we didn’t believe that philanthropy, giving, the act of charity – no matter how humble – ennobles everything it touches. But I don’t know whether to laugh or cry just now, because I learned recently that a man in Florida willed his house […]
Transparency Is Its Own Reward
“Transparency” is just a trendy term for “operational openness.” Openness can work in a nonprofit’s favor. It allows donors and prospects to see that your organization is being run responsibly. It assures them that the money it raises is being used to further its mission. But a charity that tries to keep too many secrets […]
No Short Cut to Planned Giving Ethics
The idea of ethics, as an active, engaging, and permeating part of what we do, falls well short of where it needs to be in our daily routine.
To Junk Mail, or Not to Junk Mail…Is That the Question?
Listen: there’s a grassroots rebellion against direct mail marketing. For example, CatalogChoice.Org, a nonprofit “do not send” registry for consumers and companies who want to stem the flood of unwanted catalogs and other junk mail they receive, has served more than a million individuals and businesses since its founding in 2007. And while — at […]
Prevent Fundraising Blackouts by Saving Donor Energy
The more you stress your prospect, the more demands you make upon them, the more likely they are bail on you. Here are some tips on how to keep ‘em sweet.
Mr. Cameron Has Something to Tell You
William John Cameron (1879-1953) really lived the kind of life you would expect in an adventure novel or a Hollywood movie. We want to establish that to begin with, to counter any idea that he’s famous just for coming up with colorful aphorisms. The son of Manitoba pioneers, “W.J.” Cameron was one of 13 children […]
Personalizing the Grey Flannel Suit — Part II: Seeing, Hearing, and Building Familiarity
Personalization is the key to attracting prospects, optimizing donor relationships, and maximizing the donations that result from them.