strategy

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

16 Content Ideas Your Major and Planned Gift Donors Will Love

Infographics Short, “self-contained” emails (with no hyperlinks) that include very brief updates Short letters or online articles (2-3 paragraphs) Highly relevant and targeted medium length… Read More


2 marketing Jedi Masters tell us why fundraising IS marketing/selling

Fundraising IS marketing and selling Yet some fundraisers think it’s different from other forms of marketing and sales when it isn’t. Somehow the altruistic aspects of… Read More


My Gift To You This Holiday Season

A lot of people have asked me, “Can you really achieve planned gift marketing success online?”   They didn’t believe me when I first came… Read More


Why I Like This Ad

1. It’s simple and direct 2. It does not include any legal jargon 3. It does not remind the reader about death or the IRS 4…. Read More


The Best Way to Ensure That No One Reads Your Stuff

Recently I told my writer that most people won’t read her body copy. That hurt her feelings. She was upset and reacted harshly to my… Read More


4 Email Metrics That Matter Most for Major and Legacy Gifts Marketing

Don’t get tricked into measuring meaningless stats. Here are the 4 email metrics that matter most for major and legacy gift marketing: 1- Click-thru rates… Read More


The top 3 kinds of emails your donors want to receive from you

Marketing Sherpa frequently delivers fantastic research right to your inbox for free (if you sign up for it). Here you’ll find their latest findings on… Read More


The golden rule and your organization's fundraising.

About the golden rule….   He or she who has the gold…. rules! Face it, everyone serves someone else.  And, in business and fundraising, service… Read More


Test with email first

I think it’s time we finally let go of direct mail as the first option for planned giving marketing— especially if your budget is tight…. Read More


How to really measure the effectiveness of your legacy gift marketing efforts.

I’m kicking myself because I didn’t think of this and I certainly can’t take credit for it.  A brilliant researcher (Russell James III, J.D., Ph.D.,… Read More


Marketing is easy, right?

Thanks to LUMA for providing this awesome graphic that shows just how many tools you could use for marketing efforts these days.  These tools make marketing… Read More


8 ways to promote your planned giving program on Facebook

1. Announce a gift you recently received (a modest one… legacy gifts mostly come from average folks— not the rich) and say “thank you” 2…. Read More


If you can ask for likes on Facebook, you can ask for legacy gifts everywhere

It drives me a bit batty every time I see an organization put the following words on the bottom of their emails or advertisements: “Like… Read More


What to do if your web master won’t promote planned giving on your website…

Don’t fight the power.  If your web master simply won’t post a banner ad or a promotion for your planned giving pages on your main… Read More


Are mobile devices impacting your planned giving marketing plans?

Phyllis Freedman’s recent blog post pointed out that many nonprofit’s websites do not work on mobile devices.  I knew she was right.  But so what? … Read More


Phyllis Freedman’s excellent synopsis of how planned giving target marketing is changing

Very few people write as clearly, concisely and intelligently as Phyllis Freedman (aka- The Planned Giving Blogger). In her recent post, she outlines what Stelter… Read More


4 simple suggestions to improve your planned giving marketing.

Most people think planned giving marketing is complicated.  It isn’t.  Here are some really simple suggestions for generating planned gifts. 1- Make your planned giving… Read More


How a smile can increase revenue.

One of the best things you can do to generate more revenue is very simple— smile! I know it sounds hokey but think about this:… Read More


The best planned giving blogs on the planet!

Please trash, bash or help me add to this list: 1) The Planned Giving Blogger by Phyllis Freedman https://www.smart-giving.com/plannedgivingblogger/ 2) Planned Giving Breakthroughs by Lorri… Read More


How to use a blog to generate planned gifts.

According to research by the University of Massachusetts, charities and higher education have a higher adoption rate for blogs than any other category. And that… Read More


Are planned giving prospects on the Internet?

I think it’s safe to say that the argument is over— seniors and all other planned giving prospects are on the Internet. Here are some… Read More


Are you an enlightened marketer?

Do you use big words when you talk about your marketing campaigns?  Do people have mystified looks on their faces when you discuss things like… Read More


Seven neat planned giving marketing quotes

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” – Martin Luther     “A… Read More


Could advertising to your Facebook fans be a stroke of planned giving marketing brilliance?

Think about this. Planned giving marketing begins with a good list, right? I’ve seen it time and time again.  When we look at the folks… Read More


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