Leave A Legacy

“I’d like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love…I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…” I was reminded of those lines from a 1971 Coca-Cola ad as I read an article in Planned Giving Today  about ‘Leave A Legacy.’  Now, I know I’m showing my age withRead More Leave A Legacy

Engaging In Social Media Platforms

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, WordPress, YouTube, Tumblr… the list goes on. Social media is taking over the internet and how we communicate with one another.  If your organization doesn’t have a social media presence you might as well live in the Stone Age. But what does your social media platform do for your giving? ItRead More Engaging In Social Media Platforms

Donor Advised Funds

The website Inside Philanthropy had a provocative blog recently from a nonprofit management consultant named Alan Cantor. Cantor argues that the triple-digit growth in donor advised funds (DAFs in the lingo of the field) is actually hurting charities. Simply put, a DAF is a charitable fund that an individual donor can establish at an investmentRead More Donor Advised Funds

Start Thinking About Your Prospects

By Mark Belcher, Partner I’m sure you read the title and thought to yourself, “That’s all I do!” In today’s environment of increasing competition for funding, I’ve been thinking about the constituency beyond Alumni, donors, foundations and corporations and would encourage you to do the same. Many times we leave important dollars on the tableRead More Start Thinking About Your Prospects

Crowdfunding: The Ask of the Future or Just Another Tool in the Tool Belt?

By Katie MacKenzie, Project Coordinator Crowdfunding. Every week on my various social media feeds, I see at least one or two Kickstarter, GoFundMe, or Indiegogo-type pleas for fundraising support.  Some of the causes are noble – supporting a medical mission trip to Haiti, assisting underserved students in need of new classroom supplies – while othersRead More Crowdfunding: The Ask of the Future or Just Another Tool in the Tool Belt?

BoardSource Tips – Lead With Intent | What’s Your Board Score?

BoardSource, the go-to resource for all things related to good board service and governance, this month released its annual “National Index of Nonprofit Board Practices.” BoardSource has been collecting and analyzing trends in board practices since 1994 and it is the only national survey to gather information from both chief executives and board chairs regardingRead More BoardSource Tips – Lead With Intent | What’s Your Board Score?

How To Engage Your Volunteers

Among the joys of what development folks do is the opportunity to work with some extraordinarily good and generous people. We get to help them make a difference with their gifts and see their joy in having an impact on lives. I am persuaded that many of them would give more than just their moneyRead More How To Engage Your Volunteers

Young Alumni Giving

A few months ago I attended my five year high school reunion and a few weeks after that I got my first solicitation to the alumni fund call. I was shocked to think back and realize this was the first time my high school was soliciting me for a gift of any kind. And toRead More Young Alumni Giving