Making the First Gift: The Power of Connection
By Heather H. Thornton I recently made a significant gift to my beloved alma mater, The University of the South. It wasn’t a large gift by any means, nor was it in support of an important campaign or a particular project meaningful to me. So why was this gift so significant, you ask?
Is The Donor Universe Shrinking?
Scientists have argued for years over whether or not the universe is expanding or shrinking. With the recent arrival of the Giving USA statistics for 2013, many nonprofit leaders are asking the same question about another type of universe –the “universe” of prospective donors to our non-profit organizations. For some of these leaders, there mayRead More Is The Donor Universe Shrinking?
The Dog Days of Summer Fundraising
It’s the 25th of June—summer has officially just begun—and already Atlanta temperatures have shot into the 90s. Yesterday, my car registered 113 degrees on the Friday afternoon parking lot in Atlanta that is otherwise known as Interstate 285. As I sat on the I-285 Perimeter, I was trying to think of all the things IRead More The Dog Days of Summer Fundraising
Pencils of Promise
This is the story of Pencils of Promise. Adam Braun was an American tourist, backpacking his way around India, who gave a child his pencil–and then went on to found PoP, whose mission is to build schools and create educational opportunities in the developing world. In March, he took time out to talk with CauseTalkRead More Pencils of Promise
Changing and Challenging Trends in Higher Education — The 4 D’s
The opening panel at the CASE District III conference featured distinguished college and university presidents who talked about the changing and challenging trends in higher education – or, the four D’s. Fortunately these weren’t final grades, but the latest trends in higher education: Demographics, Disruption, Disintermediation, and Dollars. Joe DiPietro, President of the University of Tennessee,Read More Changing and Challenging Trends in Higher Education — The 4 D’s
The Benefits Of Challenge And Matching Gifts
The utilization of challenge and matching gifts remains a very good strategy for securing more gifts and larger gifts. The influencing power of these gifts is multifaceted. These gifts are motivating to those being challenged. They want to help the organization secure the full challenge or, in the case of the matching gift, add toRead More The Benefits Of Challenge And Matching Gifts
Billionaires Are People, Too!
Fairly often I see major gift officers who are successfully cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding their portfolios of $25,000 to $100,000 prospects begin to change their style when the prospect is rated at $1 million or more. Some almost freeze up when it appears that the prospect might be capable of a $5 to $10 millionRead More Billionaires Are People, Too!
The Importance Of Closing The Ask
Have you closed a gift today? As fundraising consultants, we spend a lot of our time talking about (wait for it – big surprise!) FUNDRAISING. Fundraising always prompts for me a mental picture of raising a house—laying the foundation, building the walls, cutting out spaces for the windows and doors and chimney (because any houseRead More The Importance Of Closing The Ask
Making A Measurable Difference
“It is more difficult to give away money intelligently than to earn it in the first place.” Thus said Andrew Carnegie in his 1889 essay, The Gospel of Wealth. I was reminded of this quote by some students whom I had the good fortune to encounter on a cold January day in a warm classroom.Read More Making A Measurable Difference
Touch Points Please: Donor Engagement
The most important thing a nonprofit can do to increase its annual fund donors is simple: reach out and touch them. To ensure a healthy and prosperous year end, your development plan should include sending out an annual solicitation letter as early as November. Much emphasis is placed on making an annual ask, and whileRead More Touch Points Please: Donor Engagement
