- “Asking for the gift” – instead, use “Inviting the gift”
- “Targeting the donor” – instead, use “Engaging the donor”
- “Donate” – instead, use “Give”
- “Small gifts” – instead, use “Modest gifts”
- “Donor appointment” – instead, use “Donor visit”
- “Hit rate” – instead, use “Proposal success rate”
- “Pushing donors to give more” – instead, use “Inviting donors to stretch”
- “Suspect” – instead, use “Potential donor”
- “Qualification” – instead, use “Discovery”
- “Donor-centered” – instead, use “Mission-centered”
- “Board training” – instead, use “Board education”
- “Customer” – instead, use “Donor”
- “Invoice” – instead, use “Pledge reminder”
- “Sales pitch” – instead, use “Proposal”
- “Close the gift” – instead, use “Confirm the gift”
Words matter.
The language we choose shapes and influences our own thinking, the way we approach our work, and how others view us as professionals.
Choose wisely.
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**Learn With Me Opportunity**
Speaking of words and phrases, on Wednesday, April 13, I will be presenting a 1/2 hour “Quick Bite” program for the Gonser Gerber Institute on Writing Effective Donor Contact Reports. This is a densely-packed, rich-content professional development experience designed for gift officers, portfolio managers, and advancement services professionals. If you’ve ever wondered how contact reports can be crafted so that the most important information gets utilized, join us and let’s learn together!
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