The Benefits Of Challenge And Matching Gifts
The utilization of challenge and matching gifts remains a very good strategy for securing more gifts and larger gifts. The influencing power of these gifts is multifaceted. These gifts are motivating to those being challenged. They want to help the organization secure the full challenge or, in the case of the matching gift, add toRead More The Benefits Of Challenge And Matching Gifts
Billionaires Are People, Too!
Fairly often I see major gift officers who are successfully cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding their portfolios of $25,000 to $100,000 prospects begin to change their style when the prospect is rated at $1 million or more. Some almost freeze up when it appears that the prospect might be capable of a $5 to $10 millionRead More Billionaires Are People, Too!
The Importance Of Closing The Ask
Have you closed a gift today? As fundraising consultants, we spend a lot of our time talking about (wait for it – big surprise!) FUNDRAISING. Fundraising always prompts for me a mental picture of raising a house—laying the foundation, building the walls, cutting out spaces for the windows and doors and chimney (because any houseRead More The Importance Of Closing The Ask
When It Comes To Metrics, What Does Not Get Measured Does Not Get Done
We have spent a lot of time over the last several years helping organizations establish metrics to measure the development office and staff performance against a set of standards. Often these standards are based on what peers are doing and on some “best practices” in development. But often, what these metrics lack are 1) andRead More When It Comes To Metrics, What Does Not Get Measured Does Not Get Done
Nobody Wants to Fund Endowment?
I was sitting around the table with a group of campaign volunteers, who were also significant donors. We were discussing the organization’s proposed capital campaign elements and one of them said, “We need to reduce this endowment part, nobody wants to give to endowment anymore.” To my surprise, everyone else at the table agreed withRead More Nobody Wants to Fund Endowment?
Tis the Season of Giving Thanks
I don’t know about you, but it seems to me like the holiday season began back in September this year. There were ornaments on sale before my Labor Day leftovers were gone, the halls were decked before Halloween arrived, and the traffic around Lenox and Phipps has been gridlocked since October. Also of note, I’veRead More Tis the Season of Giving Thanks
How to Successfully End a Prospect Meeting
“The meeting just dragged on and on. I just couldn’t bring it to a close. Later, I realized that I had been talking with them for almost two hours. I hope they weren’t as bored as I was.” All of us at one time or another have had a prospect meeting that lasted forever. TheRead More How to Successfully End a Prospect Meeting
A Tale of Two Gifts and Taxes
Gifts and taxes. Around this time last year, two of our clients were working with donors planning to make $1 million+ gifts, as the news media were ballyhooing the ‘fiscal cliff’ fast approaching and many proposals were flying around to adjust the charitable deduction. One donor chose to make his first pledge payment in December,Read More A Tale of Two Gifts and Taxes
Year-End Gifts: It’s Better to Give than to Receive!
“It’s better to give than to receive.” As we prepare to move into the holiday season, we’re going to hear this quote from the Christian scriptures (Acts 20:35) over and over again. My great-nieces and great-nephews simply hate when they hear me say that as we’re opening our gifts around the Christmas tree! And IRead More Year-End Gifts: It’s Better to Give than to Receive!
Is a Phonathon a Thing of the Past?
Last week, I received no less than 5 calls on my cell phone from a phone number I did not recognize…and, thus, did not answer! Like many Americans, I no longer have a “land line” and rely on my smartphone for my calls. I did recognize the area code and know that the call wasRead More Is a Phonathon a Thing of the Past?