Smartideas

Straight talk about major, mid-level and legacy gift fundraising to help you be a better fundraiser

How to Ensure That Your Legacy Gift Supporters Don't Take You Out of Their Estate Plans

There must be thousands of ways to practice Engagement Fundraising. Here’s one that’s really fabulous because it zeros-in on an audience that will deliver a… Read More


Menus for Gifts

Red Bull Theater uses menus for major gifts. Red Bull Theater in New York City really got it right when they developed an outstanding themed… Read More


New Tool Helps Determine Your Asking Style So You Close More Gifts

Brian Saber, president of Asking Matters, has spent his career asking for donations on behalf of nonprofits. Now he’s really done it with a cool online… Read More


Why Not Take the Least Expensive Path from Point A to Point B?

One of our clients still spends 80% of his planned giving marketing budget on direct mail and only 20% with us even though our digital… Read More


When You Should Ignore Your Staff, Your Boss, Your Supporters and Your Volunteers

Most times when we test ugly marketing designs vs. pretty marketing designs, ugly wins. Recently Jeff Brooks rightly wrote a post about the effectiveness of ugly… Read More


I Added a Note to Subscribe and Guess What Happened?

Did you ever notice that recently I added a note at the bottom of each blog post? You can see it below. It recommends that… Read More


Does Your Organization Have a Soul?

Most businesses don’t have a soul.   They are cold and heartless. And, that’s probably (at least in part) why most businesses don’t succeed. But the… Read More


3 Big New Stats You Need to Know About Donor Advised Funds from Fidelity Charitable

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5 Ridiculously Simple Steps for Fundraising Success

When you boil it all down, attaining fundraising success is pretty simple if you just recognize that:   Step 1. Donors want to satisfy their… Read More


Answering the Question About ROI

I’m always floored when a prospective new client asks me about ROI (return on investment from marketing). Not because it’s a silly question. And not… Read More


Want a Bigger Budget for Your Planned Gift Marketing Efforts?

Here’s a strategy that will help you get a bigger budget for your planned gift marketing efforts. Post your successes on the wall outside of… Read More


HOT OFF THE PRESS: A Golden Age of Philanthropy Still Beckons With a New $59 Trillion Target

Here you can find a combination of two impressive new studies focusing on estimates of wealth transfer and philanthropic giving by households during the period from… Read More


Greg Got Schooled by Greg

It’s time for me to fall on my sword. Yesterday I wrote a post titled, “Is CEO in your legacy society?” My good friend Greg Lassonde… Read More


Is Your CEO in Your Legacy Society?

How about your board?  Committee members? How about you? Shouldn’t we be shooting for 100% participation among all of the above? How can you ask anyone… Read More


How to Answer the Question, "How Much of This Will Go to Overhead?"

Peter Drury of Splash.org tells us how to answer this challenging question.   He says to tell ’em, “Overhead is like cholesterol.  There’s good overhead… Read More


Why Webinars Work for "Engagement Fundraising"

In a recent marketing article, Shelby Britton (Senior Product Manager at Adobe) points out why Webinars work for the private sector.  The very same reasons apply… Read More


Planned Giving Fundraisers MUST Stop Living On The Tip Of The Iceberg

In Fraser Green’s book titled Iceberg Philanthropy he points out how planned giving fundraisers get tricked into thinking that what they see (the tip of the… Read More


3 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Compete Better

Face it, you are competing with about 1 million other worthy organizations around the United States. But you can win! The most competitive for-profit businesses compete… Read More


Be a Beacon of Hope and You'll Attract More Support

People need something about which they can be hopeful. Therefore, your marketing should position your organization as a beacon of hope. But be careful. Too… Read More


Politicians vs. Fundraisers

If you don’t test your marketing, you’ll end up with a bunch of politicians trying to get their ideas in place.   If you do… Read More


A Terrific Example of an Online “Engagement Fundraising” Effort for Planned Giving

Last week I spoke at an Institute of Fundraising event (London) about my favorite topic: “Engagement Fundraising.” Shortly after, my new friend from across the pond,… Read More


Are You Interrupting Your Donors or Engaging With Them?

Mass direct mail appeals = Interruption fundraising Unsolicited telemarketing = Interruption fundraising Spam email blasts = Interruption fundraising   Informative Webinars = Engagement fundraising Tours or… Read More


Is Your Nonprofit Marketing Budget Properly Aligned With the 80/20 Rule?

In 1906 an Italian economist named Vilfred Pareto discovered that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the people. He further… Read More


Why I Feel Donor Remorse and How You Can Fix it

I donate. Not because fundraising is my business but, rather, because it’s part of “who I am”. It’s part of my religion. And, it’s part of… Read More


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