When talking with Board members or other major donor prospects, we often use the words, “meaningful” and “personal” when describing the characteristics of the gift commitments we would like them to consider making. But, I find fewer and fewer advancement professionals who are using the word “sacrificial” when describing the types of major gift commitments…
Category: Fundraising
Time vs. Money
Many people shy away from the process of asking others for a financial gift. Interestingly, the level of trepidation usually is much lower when people are confronted with the task of asking someone to spend their time (and not their money) helping out a good cause. Based on the differential responses to these activities,…
So Who Wants Some “Cookies and Cream”?
You know, the ice cream flavor that regularly is voted as a favorite flavor of ice cream lovers everywhere. Do you know where this ice cream flavor was created? The University Dairy at South Dakota State University, in Brookings. This is only one of the fun reasons that effective advancement professionals should consider one of…
Why our Definition of “Donor Research” Must Change
When your major gift colleague says, “I need more research on this prospect to have a better sense of his capacity,” what do you think she means? My strong suspicion is that you believe she is talking about quantifiable, database-driven, wealth-indicating research. Research that is done principally online and answers such questions as: How…
Encouraging Others to Look Beyond The Blot
Take a normal sized, white-paged flip chart and, with a black magic marker, draw a round, big dot – about the size of your fist. Color it in fully. Now, ask people what they see. Most everyone will say they see a big, black dot. Almost no one will say anything about the large white…
Are you “of” or “for”?
What is your title? Assistant Director of Annual Giving? or Assistant Director for Annual Giving? Associate Vice President of Development? or Associate Vice President for Development? Vice President of Advancement? or Vice President for Advancement? You get the point. Little words – even those we regularly gloss over – can have a big impact on…
5 Inexpensive (And Better) Ways to Thank Your Donors
Extending thoughtful gratitude to donors is one of the most fundamental and yet under-utilized aspects of the gift cycle. As development professionals we invest a lot of time and resources in the identification of prospects, their cultivation and their solicitation. However, I would argue that the final phase of the gift cycle – stewardship –…
Why “You’re Doing It Wrong,” Is Wrong
Financial journalist Felix Salmon, recently wrote an opinion piece for Reuters entitled, “Philanthropy: You’re Doing It Wrong.” The blog is worth a read, if only because it clearly articulates wrong-headed concepts about how best to engage philanthropists. Allow me to highlight Salmon’s thesis as best I understand it. He is criticizing the “mega-philanthropists: the people who…
The Charitable IRA Rollover Is Back: Act Quickly With Donors
The most recent tax law passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, included the reinstatement of the charitable IRA rollover. To recap the context of this rule, people who are 70.5 years old and have traditional IRAs must take required distributions and pay tax on the withdrawals. This law reinstates the ability for…
The Government’s Role In Helping Us Live Generously
As the U.S. federal government approaches the January 1 “fiscal cliff” deadline, there continues to be discussion around closing tax “loopholes” in an effort to increase tax receipts. As has been discussed previously, the charitable gift deduction has gotten swept up into this conversation. It would appear that there are 4 ways in which the…