Giving is Good
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…
“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…
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?…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…