Philanthropy is not a multiple choice question for your nonprofit board of directors
So often I have heard this one line uttered..."But I give of my time and that is my gift!"Yes and no.As a Board of Director, you are expected to give of your time. You are a volunteer. You have fiduciary responsibilities that you are…
Identifying new potential donor prospects for fundraising
As a consultant, I get asked this question all the time. How do I find new donors for my fundraising efforts?Well, let me offer a few easy and cost-effective steps that don't require you to purchase or rent costly donor lists for your fund…
Sleigh bells ring…Is your year-end fundraising strategy in place?
A little early you might say but…Not really because if you are not hearing sleigh bells ringing then you might already be behind the eight ball in your development office.Santa is getting his sleigh ready and so should you be.Now is…
Moves management actions
In need of some "moves management" suggestions for your donors?Try some of these out:Follow up a thank-you call to a donor with a video or photos of your mission in action.
Post videos of your mission in action on Facebook, and ask your…
Do you have a fundraising procedure for handling gifts of securities?
Whether part of an existing gift acceptance policy or a separate written document, your organization should prepare a written description of the procedures for handling a gift of securities.Where is the organization's brokerage account?
Who…
The professionalism of development
It is almost two weeks now until I go away to school to complete my second summer residency for my Masters in Philanthropy and Fund Development.As I reflect back on my career, I am in awe.When I first started in development back in 1994,…
Giving USA releases yearly findings and donations barely grew at all last year
Shared from the Chronicle of PhilanthropyFor the second year in a row, charitable giving barely grew, rising by just 0.9 percent after inflation in 2011, according to today’s release of “Giving USA,” the annual yearbook of American philanthropy.…
No Stronger This Year
Slow fundraising growth in 2011 comes nowhere near to erasing record historic losses—the deepest ever recorded in the report’s five decades—caused by the recession.Total charitable giving last year was still 11 percent below what it…
Aid Groups Did Better
American charities that conduct development and relief work overseas were the only type of nonprofit to outpace inflation by a significant percentage, at 4.4 percent, while donations to environmental causes increased by 1.4 percent after inflation.…
Fundraising is part art and science
This week was a very busy week in my world.As I reflect back on it, the biggest "thing" that comes to mind over this past week is the question, "fundraising is it an art or is it science?"I say, it is both.A good fundraiser knows technique,…
Have you strategically planned?
Throughout my career, I have found that it is oftentimes not fund development issues that impact the effectiveness of fundraising, but, larger organizational ones.After doing many development audits and assessments, I can say that the top…
Will I raise money with donor acquisition?
I often get asked by nonprofit organizations, what is the value of conducting a donor acquisition campaign?Well, if you are looking to make money, you probably will not at first.Donor acquisition mailings frequently do not pay for themselves.…
