A great time for bequests, but are you ready?
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the number of people dying in the United States will double in the next forty years. WOW!Hard to read, but surely reality. And, sometimes reality is stark.The Baby Boomers will soon be facing…
We need money now! An ethical decision.
This week, I read a post by the very insightful Veritus Group. In the post, they asked,"When you think of your donor, do you first think of them as a source of cash – as a way to reach the goals you have set?"This question indeed touched…
When your donor loves you way too much.
For many donors who hold great wealth, they sometimes want to do more than just give. In fact, they want to shape directly rather than just support a charitable cause. This term is often called, "hyperagency."In most cases, that is fine. In…
What is cultivation really about?
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…
The importance of gift range charts to major giving
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…
How to qualify major gift prospects
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…
Is fundraising a profession yet?
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…
Do your nonprofit board of directors self-assess itself? Perhaps it should…
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…
Are you asking for money? Or inviting investors in your nonprofit organization?
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…
Board development got you down? I want to hear from you.
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…
Nonprofit board recruitment is key to fundraising raising effectiveness
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…
Nonprofit capital campaign named gift opportunities
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…
