“Reflect on your present blessings, on which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” —Charles Dickens (M. Dickens, 1897) If you live in the States, the 4th Thursday of November is the day set aside to be thankful. We are encouraged to focus on our blessings and…
Category: Fundraising
A Year End Reminder for the IRA Charitable Rollover
As December 31, 2013, approaches it is worth reminding donors that the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8), passed this past January, extended the IRA Charitable Rollover provision which permits individuals to make a “qualified charitable distribution” to an eligible charitable organization without recognizing the amount of the distribution as income. Here…
Helping Donors Give On Purpose
We are quickly approaching the Giving Season. Soon, men and women in holiday costumes will stand outside of crowded store entrances ringing bells and seeking the coins loosely jiggling in pockets. Your snail mailbox will be stuffed with colorful envelopes filled with compelling pleas of support. Mostly all fine causes, to be sure. And donors…
Frictionless, Convenient, and Emotional – Branding Your Donor Experience
A few days back, Tom Groenfeldt, a contributor to Forbes, wrote about the intersection of technology and shopping patterns at Kroger’s grocery stores. If you missed it, it is a worthwhile read on how Kroger (and other major retailers) are getting to know your shopping habits better than you know them yourself. The article introduced…
Counting, Reporting, Valuing, and Crediting Planned Gifts
In the most effective development programs, maturing planned gifts can account for 20 – 25% of total gift income in any given year. Whether in a campaign or during your institution’s annual giving efforts, you should have a clear understanding of and plan for how you will report, count, value, and credit planned gifts. The…
The Education of a Major Gift Prospect
There are 3 components that need to come together for a major gift prospect to become a major gift donor: Assets – The prospect must have the financial capacity to make the major gift commitment; Personal Relationship – The prospect must come to understand, appreciate, and value the mission and vision of the institution or…
That Feeling Of Finding Something We’ve Lost
There is something about finding something we feared we’ve lost. A couple of years ago on our annual family vacation, I was throwing a football in knee-high surf only to have my wedding band slip quietly off my suntan-lotioned finger. By the time I realized it was gone, the steady waves had shifted the sandy…
What Does A Donor Crave?
Why do donors make gifts? What motivates a donor to give? It’s not because your materials are the most eye-catching or compelling. It’s not because your institution has the most needs. It’s not because you serve the most disadvantaged populations. It’s not even because you have the most urgent and life-impacting case for support. If…
It’s Not What You Have Or What You Know
You’ve heard these well-worn proverbs before: “It’s not what you have, it’s who you have.” “It’s not what you know, its who you know.” The central theme of these old saws is, of course, that people matter more than things. The people who you count as close will have a larger impact on the quality…
The “Culture of Ought”
Recently I was presenting on the process of asking for a major gift before a diversified group of development professionals. The folks in the room that day spanned all levels of development leaders, gift officers, and support team members and ranged in experience from a few weeks on the job to seasoned pros. During a…