“I’ll ask them what impact they want to make.” This was the answer I received recently when I asked a gift officer what question they might pose to a donor couple in order to get into the major gift giving discussion the gift officer was seeking to have with them. On the surface, this would…
Category: Fundraising
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?…
Giving As Good Governance
There are at least 3 reasons why giving should be a key aspect of a governing board’s work: Board member giving signifies to employees, donors, and the broader community that they believe in and fully support the CEO. If the board desires the CEO to be successful, then personal giving of some amount from each…
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…
My Mom’s Biscuits
Simply stated, they are fantastic. They always have been since I can remember. Made from scratch, warm, flaky, and perfect for topping with apple butter. The problem is that she can’t tell you how she makes them. She has no recipe. It’s not difficult – flour, baking soda, buttermilk, etc. But, there is no formula….
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…
Beyond the Donor’s Legacy
We focus a good bit on inviting donors to “leave a legacy.” Or, talking with donors about their giving legacy. But what about your legacy in this work? Will you be known as a person who encouraged others on the team? Will you be viewed as the individual who put the mission or the cause…
“Your Gift Truly Matters!”
I recently made an online gift to an institution and here is the automated email receipt and thank you message I received: “Hello Jason: Thank you for your gift. We appreciate your generosity and support of <<Institution Name>>. Your gift truly matters!” Then there was the gift receipt information and a bit more about thanking…
How To Ask Better Questions
Advancement leaders should be expert question-askers. We should be asking strategic questions to better understand our donors. We should be asking encouraging questions to embolden those who report to us. We should be asking generative questions to inspire our boards and other volunteer leaders. We should ask questions to learn, to engage, and to raise…