Giving is Good
In David Bayles and Ted Orland’s book, Art & Fear, they tell a great story about becoming a better artist. Here it is: “The ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of the studio, he said, would be graded solely on…
Start the year off right with high-quality, mind-stretching, solution-rich professional development opportunities. The Gonser Gerber Institute is offering the following webinars and workshops to help you and your team do the best possible advancement work in 2014. Below are three programs being offered early in the year: 5 Essential Tips: Innovative (And Inexpensive) Ways to…
Sometimes a gift isn’t a just a gift. Sometimes a gift – especially the gift amount – is a message. Consider the $1000 to $50 continuum. Let’s say that a new donor gives your institution $50 one year and then $1,000 the next. In most instances, something has changed in a positive way with their…
I listened over the last few days as speakers at a conference talked about “closing gifts.” I’ve never been fond of that phrase – “closing the gift” – but I’ve never went out of my way to find particular fault with it either. And then one speaker made the following statement in reference to the…
It wasn’t that long ago (pre-internet, actually) that people interested in buying a car would show up at the local dealership and begin the process of being “sold” a car. Those days are all but gone. Today, when people are interested in getting a new vehicle, they first scour the internet for their choice and…
Recently, Seth Godin blogged on the subject of giving. His entry entitled, “What do we get when we give to a good cause?” was a bit off base from my perch. His answer to this important question was simply, “A story.” He said, “In fact, every time someone donates to a good cause, they’re buying a…
“Reflect on your present blessings, on which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” —Charles Dickens (M. Dickens, 1897) If you live in the States, the 4th Thursday of November is the day set aside to be thankful. We are encouraged to focus on our blessings and…
As December 31, 2013, approaches it is worth reminding donors that the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8), passed this past January, extended the IRA Charitable Rollover provision which permits individuals to make a “qualified charitable distribution” to an eligible charitable organization without recognizing the amount of the distribution as income. Here…
We are quickly approaching the Giving Season. Soon, men and women in holiday costumes will stand outside of crowded store entrances ringing bells and seeking the coins loosely jiggling in pockets. Your snail mailbox will be stuffed with colorful envelopes filled with compelling pleas of support. Mostly all fine causes, to be sure. And donors…
A few days back, Tom Groenfeldt, a contributor to Forbes, wrote about the intersection of technology and shopping patterns at Kroger’s grocery stores. If you missed it, it is a worthwhile read on how Kroger (and other major retailers) are getting to know your shopping habits better than you know them yourself. The article introduced…