Cultivate, cultivate, cultivate. The way we talk about donors sometimes makes me think that we are in relationships. And, in a sense, I guess we are. Cultivation, what is it? Well for one, it’s about learning more about a donor and his or her interests and how our cause’s mission intersects with their personal passions. […]
There are two things that you need to consider when developing a major gift strategy. The first is deciding on what level of gift you want to solicit in person, and the second is prioritizing the list of prospects from the screening process to ensure that there are enough prospects for each level of gifts […]
The world is full of prospects. Now who to see first. Well, those that are most likely to make an individual donation. Without a crystal ball, how do you even begin to determine those most likely to make a donation? Well, first you look at linkage. Is there a strong connection between your organization and […]
Is this your major gift strategy? Big donor to save the day? You know. You look up every large property owner in town and create a list. Or, how about you excavate other folks annual reports and assume, hey why not. When you live in a small town or city, this strategy is especially compounded. […]
Oh no! We need a new building. The offer letter is on the table. What now? We need money! But wait, we haven’t done any fundraising in the past. We need millions tomorrow to move into our new facility and to make all the necessary upgrades. Time, we don’t have time! Does this scenario sound […]
When you are sick, you go to the doctor. The doctor advises you on what you need to do in order to return to health. You listen, you follow the instructions, and you get better. It is not that way with fund development. You look for the qualifications – the MBA, the CFRE, but do […]
Does your board of directors periodically practice board self-evaluation? If it doesn’t, it should. Self-evaluation is a great way to maintain board awareness around its responsibilities as a board member and the potential need for changes on the board level. It is a great way to check in with each member and to learn about […]
What is the old saying, “You say it ‘potato’ and I say it is …” Unfortunately, when it comes to donors, I don’t think you can splice words. Are we asking for money? Asking for support? Or are we thinking about this relationship differently and “inviting investments.” Investments in a better future. A brighter world. […]
For the past several weeks now, I have been doing a lot of posting. And, I have heard back from many of you. It seems like there is an issue with our boards of directors. Many of you have had questions, comments, and concerns about your board situation. Some are working on strengthening your existing […]
Nonprofit board development is THAT important. Not just to the organization as a whole, but, how it directly impacts fundraising effectiveness. A board dream team just does not appear. It needs to be systematically developed.It all starts with an inventory through the creation of a recruitment matrix. The recruitment matrix is a tool that you […]
Most nonprofit capital campaigns have some form of named gift opportunities. However, contrary to what one might think is that gifts made to name a specific room in a building do not actually pay for that space. In most cases, the costs of a room are more determined by how visible and how prestigious this […]
Board Member Roles and Responsibilities During a Capital Campaign In a capital campaign board members should make the organization a priority through: Reviewing their philanthropic priorities and committing to make a “stretch” gift to the campaign. Board members should all support the Annual Fund campaign each year in addition to supporting the capital campaign. All board members […]
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