Giving USA 2017: Highlights and Presentation
Charitable giving hit a record high for the third straight year in 2016, reaching $390.05-billion, according to Giving USA. However, donations rose at a slower rate than in recent years — 1.4% — as key economic indicators grew modestly and a divisive election season sowed uncertainty. Giving from living individuals, which for years has madeRead More Giving USA 2017: Highlights and Presentation
3 Ways to Start Your Search for Fundraising Counsel
The first task is to identify a pool of firms to begin the selection process. There are a number of resources for identifying firms, but before you start looking, you need to decide what you are looking for.
Giving To The Arts – What Goes Down, Must Come Up?
You know the saying that what goes up must come down. This year, we’ve learned the inverse is true when it comes to giving to the arts. What has been down is now coming up! The 2013 Giving USA results show an increase of 7.8 percent, and that’s not even the best part. In 2007,Read More Giving To The Arts – What Goes Down, Must Come Up?
Brick Paver Campaigns: To Follow The Yellow Brick Road… Or Not?
Nonprofits often engage in brick paver campaigns with good intentions and sincere motives, but, in fundraising terms, about 4 out of 5 are financially unsuccessful. While they may seem like a good idea at the outset, the end results can be disastrous, as evidenced by the following horror stories I’ve been told: One organization’s one-size-fits-allRead More Brick Paver Campaigns: To Follow The Yellow Brick Road… Or Not?
When It Comes To Metrics, What Does Not Get Measured Does Not Get Done
We have spent a lot of time over the last several years helping organizations establish metrics to measure the development office and staff performance against a set of standards. Often these standards are based on what peers are doing and on some “best practices” in development. But often, what these metrics lack are 1) andRead More When It Comes To Metrics, What Does Not Get Measured Does Not Get Done
Nobody Wants to Fund Endowment?
I was sitting around the table with a group of campaign volunteers, who were also significant donors. We were discussing the organization’s proposed capital campaign elements and one of them said, “We need to reduce this endowment part, nobody wants to give to endowment anymore.” To my surprise, everyone else at the table agreed withRead More Nobody Wants to Fund Endowment?
The Power of “For”
I was at an educational session recently where the topic was nonprofit financing. It was a robust discussion about the use of capital, creation of endowments, financing growth, etc. The primary focus of the speaker was on the area of “growth capital” and the idea that, perhaps, too much of the equity in the nonprofitRead More The Power of “For”
What Do You Have About Me In Your Database?
I was at a meeting recently when I was approached by a volunteer who asked me a question. The exchange went like this: Volunteer: “What information from your database have you shared with XYZ Org?” Me: “What database?” Volunteer: “The database at the firm.” Me: “We don’t have a database with information about you atRead More What Do You Have About Me In Your Database?
That’s How The Pigskin Bounces: Football Season Fundraising
Many of the organizations we work with are colleges and universities, and many of these play intercollegiate football at some level. Several of our current clients are prominent NCAA FBS schools. In fact, 5 of the AP top 10 are current or former clients of Alexander Haas. So what, you ask. I thought this wasRead More That’s How The Pigskin Bounces: Football Season Fundraising
A Very Bored Board: Managing Expectations
In his post last week, our friend Jim Paglia discussed his experience and work with nonprofit boards. As I reflected on his words of wisdom, I began to review an assessment we recently wrote for a client, and was shocked by some of the findings! Why? Let’s take a look at their board’s statistics:
