Giving is Good
Driving on a highway recently, I saw this sign: As I continued to speed down the roadway, I wondered what I was supposed to do in response to this new information that I, apparently, was entering a “blasting zone.” What did that mean for me? Was I in danger? Should I get off at the…
“Asking for the gift” – instead, use “Inviting the gift” “Targeting the donor” – instead, use “Engaging the donor” “Donate” – instead, use “Give” “Small gifts” – instead, use “Modest gifts” “Donor appointment” – instead, use “Donor visit” “Hit rate” – instead, use “Proposal success rate” “Pushing donors to give more” – instead, use “Inviting…
Nothing much of significance happens in advancement through solitary effort. That gift the development officer is credited for soliciting? One colleague worked on the design of the proposal. Another colleague provided valuable insights about the gift amount through research. And, yet another helped arrange the lunch meeting where the donor was invited to give. That…
Snaking throughout all of human history, the biggest lie rears its hissing head time and again. It’s the lie that begets all other lies. It’s the lie that leads to indescribable atrocities and the lie that encourages and flames violence in all its forms. The biggest lie enables the “us versus them” lie. Because, the…
Stay with any hotel that’s part of a major flag since the beginning of the pandemic and one change that has stayed constant is the end of the daily housekeeping service. No fresh towels and no room cleaning each day, unless requested. The impetus for this change, of course, was the concern early in the…
“Taking the time,” implies that we are squeezing into our schedules an unplanned activity, engagement, or task. When we “take the time,” we deduct from our current schedule. It implies something we should do. Perhaps, even, a burden. “Making the time,” on the other hand, suggests that we are proactively planning to use our time…
It’s quite common for advancement professionals and volunteers to want the “silver bullet language” around asking for gifts. Surely there must be phrases, individual words, and conversation transitions which, when deftly strung together, will unlock the giving motivations in humans. There must be a process, a formula, a blueprint that makes the asking easier and…
It works to make us feel better in the moment. It works to help us not examine our own possibilities, problems, or opportunities. It works to deflect responsibility. But it only works for so long. In time, “us vs. them” thinking crashes under its own weight of fear, insecurities, doubt, self-absorption, non-factual biases, and too…
If your aim is to enhance the visibility of your institution, engage more advocates for your cause, and raise more money by making your work more orderly, organized, and programmed, you will have limited success. If your aim is to increase the number of donors who give at the $1,000+ level, have more people attend…
Too many institutions start the draft of their “Case For Support” by focusing on the “support” part of that phrase. These are typical questions asked first: Project: What do we need money for? Priority: Is this project/initiative/building our most important priority? Details: How will we specifically spend the money? And while these are, ultimately important questions…