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…
It’s all in the asking! Rehearse well before your next major gift ask.
Yep. You can go through the motions with your donor, but if you don't A S K, you don't G E T. Simple as that.So, where do you even start?Each donor is an individual. And, being an individual, he or she needs an individualized strategy -…
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…
Are you wishing on a capital campaign?
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.…
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…
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…
Your nonprofit board members role in a capital campaign
Board Member Roles and Responsibilities During a Capital CampaignIn 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…
Don’t skimp on the capital campaign planning
Not sure about your experiences with capital campaigns but they are highly technical with lots of moving pieces.Oftentimes, groups want to skimp on the planning stages. For instance, they want to jump right into campaign mode without…
Capital campaigns – a few things you should know and a few things I would like to know!
Capital campaigns have become in fashion lately.Perhaps it is the recovering economy or perhaps it is something quite else.But, whatever it is, I now have two potential campaigns lined up for this next year.What is a capital campaign?Well…
Whats fund development got to do with strategic planning?
Strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising are processes with specific steps.All three used to be performed independently of the other.Today, their integration into a single process is exemplified by the following principles that all…
