Too often gift officers focus on the donor and miss the human being. Donors are conduits for gifts. Donors are assets to be managed. Donors are, God-forbid, “giving units.” Human beings, on the other hand, are holistic. They are complex and nuanced. They are souls with lived experiences and stories. When a gift officer shares…
Month: January 2021
2 Ways To Know
Dollywood’s Wild Eagle is one of my all-time favorite roller coasters. The initial drop is a smallish 135 feet and, while the ride lasts only 2 minutes and 22 seconds and hits a modest speed of 61 mph, it does have 4 inversions. It’s the smoothness of the ride, though, that makes it so enjoyable…
Acquire vs. Inquire
How do you prepare for donor visits – either virtual or in-person? What steps do you take to identify the purpose of the visit? How do you go about establishing specific goals for the visit? What overall mindset are you bringing to the visit planning process? The most effective gift officers plan for donor visits…
Consistently Small
One year ago this morning none of us had any idea what the next 12 months would hold. Similarly, today, none of us knows what the next 12 months will hold. All we do know is that we have limited control over all ways life will impact us. Some of you are waking today with…