“We’ve gotten some push-back from the direct mail piece we sent. People are saying we ask for money all the time.” “People complained that we sent too many emails on our giving day.” “We’ve had people hang up on our phonathon callers.” Whenever I hear these types of observations from advancement folk, I regularly ask…
Category: Branding
How Do You Think Best?
Not when or where do you think best. We all have stories of that a-ha moment while taking a shower or waking up with the solution to an especially thorny problem we are facing. But, how do you think best? Do you think best by bouncing ideas off of other people? Do you think best…
2 Mistakes With 1 Specific Thing
What’s the 1 specific thing you want a prospective donor to do based on receiving your direct mail? What’s the 1 specific thing you want an alum to do based on their interaction with your social media campaign? What’s the 1 specific thing you want to accomplish with the prospective major donor during your visit?…
How Busy Is Too Busy?
When we become so busy there isn’t a time to learn, we are too busy. When we become so busy there isn’t time to read, we are too busy. When we become so busy there isn’t time to relax, we are too busy. When we become so busy there isn’t time to plan, we are…
The Giving Docent
If you’ve ever been on an inspiring and engaging guided tour of a museum, a zoo, a historical site, a botanical garden, or even a city, chances are you were led by an experienced and talented docent. The word, “docent,” is defined most simply as a college or university teacher or lecturer (not at the…
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…
What Are We Afraid Of?
If we are afraid of failing, we won’t try new things. If we are afraid of looking stupid in front of others, we won’t take the lead. If we are afraid the donor will say, “no,” we won’t invite the gift. If we are afraid of confrontation, we won’t speak plainly to each other. If…
They Might Be Right
During his life, Howard Baker, Jr., the longtime politician and diplomat from Tennessee, credited his father with the following quote: “You should always go through life working on the assumption that the other guy might be right.” Not only does this quote strike me as a thoughtful way to travel through life personally, but it…
“I Don’t Know. . .”
“I don’t know how we will reach the goal. . .” “I don’t know where the next major gift is coming from. . .” “I don’t know who is willing to lead this campaign. . .” After we establish a goal, create a fundraising plan, or design a campaign, our advancement work is filled with…
Marketing Your Annual Fund
Development leaders often make the case that donors aren’t eager to give to the annual fund because its not compelling to support “keeping the lights on.” But, donors aren’t ceasing their giving to your annual fund because they want to, “give to something specific” instead. Or, because your annual fund, “is a black hole.” Or,…