Giving is Good
A quick riff based on yesterday’s Seth Godin’s pitching vs. asking blog. According to Godin: We are pitching when we have a goal in mind and we are working from a script of some sort. We are asking when we are willing to learn (and potentially change our perspective) from the interaction. Godin says this…
With the fiscal year ending for many in the higher education advancement world, the “season of annual planning,” soon will be fully upon us. Creating agendas for sessions, retreats, and meetings to plan for the new fiscal year’s aspirations, goals, and objectives is critical to healthy and effective planning. In many instances, though, we program…
“Our goal for the annual fund this year is $1.1 million. And, we have a “stretch” goal of $1.3 million.” I hear this type of statement from development leaders far more than I wish. Usually, I respond with something like, “so, what is your goal for the annual fund this year?” I respond this way…
We know that the acronym BOY (“Because of you”), is a compelling phrase in solicitations because it helps connect the prospective donor directly to the impact of the mission. “Because of you, we were able to graduate more students like Lauren. . .” “Because of you, we were able to help over 1,000 patients receive…
It’s not that perfect doesn’t exist (it doesn’t, of course). It’s that perfect doesn’t exist, yet we act and talk as if it does. We spend too much time reviewing and finalizing that direct mail letter because we are seeking the perfect message. We take too long to set up the visit with that great…
Many advancement leaders say they are striving for a “frictionless” giving experience so that more people will give. Of course, giving has become more and more “frictionless” over time (I can remember, for example, when the only way to respond to a direct mail appeal involved a stamp, a check, and the post office!), and…
Both context and purpose are critically important if we aim to be consistently effective on donor visits, meetings with colleagues, phone calls with prospective donors, email outreaches to volunteers, implementing special events, sending direct mail invitations to give – really anything we do in advancement. By context, I mean the surrounding issues related to the…
If we define constituent relations as those programs and activities designed to encourage people to engage more deeply with your mission or cause, then there are three primary aims of those efforts. First, constituent relations efforts should educate people. Yes, this is education on your mission and it’s important impacts. But, this version of education…
Not long ago, I interviewed a couple who are significant major gifts donors and asked them how they got started making significant gifts. When and how was the seed planted for them to give generously? The husband and wife looked at each other for a moment and then he shared with me a brief story…
French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas once said: “Painting is easy when you don’t know how. But very difficult when you do.” Very similar to fundraising. Follow and share Jason’s Blog: