Plan before you prepare your next proposal.
What are the first steps to your grant planning?
First you need to document your funding priorities with custom tailored cases for supports that can be used to match up to a funders priority.
Once you have outlined your needs, the next steps…
I have a motive, and it is a bequest.
Yes, I have a motive, and it is a bequest. As a young woman with no children, I have already created my estate plans. Yes, I have. And while those I love will be taken care of as they should. There is a time after they are gone when my assets…
Insanity? Creating a fundraising plan without conducting an audit.
When developing a fundraising plan, I am often asked whether or not, I can skip the development audit analysis. And, I arguably say "no!"
A fundraising audit is probably the most critical stage of the entire planning process looking at where…
A Case Study: Donor Acquisition – It Does Work!
This week, I had a conversation with one of my very first clients. And, I wanted to share their success story. You see, too many groups don't want to invest in donor acquisition because they know that they will lose money - in the short-term.…
Younger people want to give, but can’t!
Younger donors don't give as much. You can chase the Millennials and the generation whatever's, but if you don't take into consideration the family life cycle, then you are misdirecting your energies.
What is the family life cycle I hear…
Hello, are you really listening to me?
We are all so very guilty of appearing to listen to someone, but yet already forming a reply in our head..
You know, you are sitting with a donor and rather than listening, you are rehearsing what your response may be.
Are you missing some…
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…
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 -…
Let’s ban the title Newsletters – all in favor?
The one best tip I have for nonprofit newsletters - stop calling them newsletters. I am of the mind that this title creates a great deal of confusion both for the nonprofit and the donor.
Why?
First, donors are like investors. They are giving…
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…
