When society was framed around agriculture, people experienced the value of chores. Gather the eggs. Feed the livestock. Plant the seed. Not just once in a while. Consistently. Every day there was some chore that needed completing. As we become more disconnected from engaging with the land, other animals, and our natural world, we also…
Taking “No” For An Answer
Our culture celebrates those with the grit, determination, force of will, and interpersonal skills to bend reality in their favor. It can be easy, for instance, to embrace the notion that the best development folk, “never take ‘no’ for an answer” from a donor. The effective fundraisers, this ubiquitous thinking goes, are the ones with…
Of, For, To, and With
Advancement professionals routinely talk about their desire to “create a culture of philanthropy.” Far better, I think, to “create a culture for philanthropy.” Our cultures shouldn’t be of philanthropy. Our cultures shouldn’t be idly possessed or inactively influenced by philanthropy. Instead, our institutional cultures should be for philanthropy. Our cultures should actively promote, enthusiastically inspire,…
Inviting Effectively
There are 2 primary components that lead to effectively inviting people to engage more deeply. First, we have to have clarity in what we want them to do. What, specifically, are we asking of them? Give for the first time? Attend an event? Be a member of the governing board? Increase their giving to a…
The Pressure For Gifts
There are two types of pressures gift officers can embrace. On the one hand, many gift officers can feel pressured to invite the biggest possible gift from a donor as quickly as possible. This pressure can cause gift officers to feel as if they have to “ask big,” and “not leave money on the table,”…
What Comes After “Giving Tuesday” . . . For You?
Last Thursday in the United States (back on October 9 for our Canadian friends), the Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated. This holiday has evolved into a time for pausing to feel gratitude, to count one’s blessings, and to focus on the positive, even when the negative may be surrounding us. Yesterday was “Giving Tuesday.” A day,…
What Should Concern Us More?
“We’ve gotten some push-back from the direct mail piece we sent. People are saying we ask for money all the time.” “People complained that we sent too many emails on our giving day.” “We’ve had people hang up on our phonathon callers.” Whenever I hear these types of observations from advancement folk, I regularly ask…
How Do You Think Best?
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…
A Better Donor Question – At Least To Begin
“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…
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?…