That beliefs drive human decision-making has never been evidenced any more dramatically than we currently are witnessing in the United States – and elsewhere around the world – with respect to COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Reading stories about people who would rather be hospitalized (or worse) than receive a vaccine suggests that something different than knowledge…
Author: Jason McNeal
I provide leadership, advancement and fundraising consulting services to educational, healthcare, and non-profit organizations.
Answering A Different Question
In major gift philanthropy, we regularly talk about “helping donors align their values with their giving,” or “aligning our funding priorities with the donor’s values.” We regularly say we are striving to get to know our donors deeply and to engage them personally. These types of major gift donor engagement axioms are now ubiquitous in…
On Curiosity
In general, folks can be curious in 3 ways: Curious about things; Curious about ideas; Curious about people. Typically, we all fall somewhere on the spectrum for each of these classifications. But, the most effective advancement pros lean heavily into the 3rd. (As an aside, some people are not curious about any of the 3…
What’s Their Story?
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…
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…
The Harmful Allure of Point-Making
Influence matters a great deal in the achievement of fundraising goals. The more influence an institutional leader, a gift officer, or a volunteer has with a donor or prospect, the greater the opportunity to encourage generous responses from that donor or prospect. People give to people. But the process of enhancing one’s interpersonal influence is…
Committing To Quiet
Last night – Christmas Eve – we had snow in East Tennessee. This is a uncommon occurrence for us but a welcome one, especially given the holiday. Falling snow is mesmerizing to watch as it dances toward the ground under the watchful eyes of street lamps. And I spent some time bundled up on our…
7 Words That Hinder Your Advancement Success
Donate – inviting people to “donate” is akin to asking for hand-me-downs. People donate used items. They donate old clothes, or used cars. Generally speaking, donations are second-thought give-aways, not charitable investments in your mission. Use give, giving, and gift, instead. Appointment – advancement professionals don’t have appointments with donors. We have visits or meetings. …