I once conducted a campaign readiness study for a client in which a participant who had made a 7-figure gift some years back stopped our interview and asked, “I have a question for you. . . Is this institution still Christian?” A bit caught off guard, I responded by saying, “I’m not on campus every…
Category: Admissions
Helpful Volunteers
If we start with the belief that volunteers can help advance our mission in important ways, then, we need to also realize that it is likely they won’t understand how to do that effectively without our guidance. It is unwise (and will be viewed as unprofessional, btw), to invite people to volunteer and, then, also…
Today and Tomorrow
Today, we may want more resources for our annual giving program. On the other hand, tomorrow we may want to have more dollars raised from our annual giving program. Today, we may want another gift officer to meet with more donors. On the other hand, tomorrow we may want to have more discovery visits completed…
“No one cares!”
Turns out, this statement is right. “No one cares that your organization needs more money.” “No one cares that your campaign is under goal.” “No one cares that your development program is understaffed and overworked.” But. . . “A lot of people care about your mission.” “A lot of people care about those you serve.”…
Facts, Taglines, and Stories
Facts don’t motivate people. Taglines don’t motivate people. Stories motivate people. People don’t create understanding from facts or taglines. People create understanding from stories. And yet, advancement folk spend significant time and effort collecting and sharing facts and wordsmithing pithy taglines – all with the hope that people will stitch together the motivational story for…
Mission, Vision, and Values
The words of our mission statement are less important than how consistently we use our mission to make budgetary decisions. The directions described in our vision statement are less important than how enthusiastically we use our vision to invite donors to give. The specific virtues expressed in our values statement are less important than how…
*Free* Subscription Drive
2024 marks the 15th year of Jason’s Blog. I’m beyond grateful for the thousands of readers and subscribers who have been on this journey with me and appreciate the kind words, additional good thoughts, (as well as spelling and grammatical catches!) so many have shared with me over the years. This blog is for each…
All We Know
First, the printing press made knowledge and information distributable to those who could read. Then, terrestrial radio and television broadcast knowledge and information to anyone with the hardware to receive the signals. Next came the searchable internet which connected hardware so that the whole planet (mostly) could share knowledge and information. Now, we are experiencing…
Setting The Table
Most institutions understand the concept of marketing – offer an attractive opportunity along with an easy way for people to respond. We market programs, special events, activities, athletics, ticket sales, annual giving opportunities, naming opportunities, planned giving, etc. But what comes before marketing – public relations – is at least as important as the marketing…
A Higher Education ‘Feel Good’ Story With a Moral
Recently, I read a news story about a woman who posted on social media about potentially missing out on a substantial scholarship offer from Maryville College in Tennessee. If you have yet to read the story, the basics are that student was going to need significant financial assistance to go the traditional 4-year college route. …