strategy

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

3 simple steps to conduct predictive analytics on a shoestring budget

Predictive analytical modeling can help you understand and predict who might likely become a major or planned gift donor for your nonprofit fundraising efforts. It’s powerful…. Read More


What to do instead of the crusty old estate planning seminars you run hoping to generate planned gifts

I’m not sure the old-fashioned estate planning seminars really work to generate legacy gifts. Here’s why: They’re expensive (since time is the same as money)…. Read More


Why I don’t cry foul when I hear how much money sits in DAFs

Al Cantor is great. He’s a tiger. He takes particular interest in what DAFs are (and are NOT) doing. For instance, fairly recently he pointed… Read More


7 key questions for qualifying your major gift and planned gift prospects

The funny thing about fundraising is that just about every nonprofit has plenty of data, plenty of prospects, and some even have wealth screened data—… Read More


The best way to predict the future is to invent it

I was tired of waiting. When I was just a donor, I was frustrated with the letters, newsletters, and emails I received from my beloved… Read More


Don’t ever ask someone to give until it hurts

Give until it hurts? Like so many other things I dislike about traditional fundraising axioms, this one has always rubbed me the wrong way. Remember,… Read More


How to prep for your next big ask

There’s a ton of information out there about how to ask for a donation. Here’s a 52-page report from AFP (link removed – report now… Read More


The Rule of 7 vs. 3-to-1 fundraising

Jerold Panas’ classic fundraising book Mega Gifts published in 1984 includes a story about a zoo’s board member named Mary G. Roebling. According to Jerold,… Read More


Fundraising vs. Selling: How to overcome the misconceptions

Too many people give selling a bad rap. Selling is NOT about pushing people around and convincing them to do something they don’t want to do…. Read More


I am a disruptor

I’m proud to be a disruptor. I’ve been this way all my life. I can’t help it. Therefore, I simply won’t apologize for my disruptive nature…. Read More


4 amazing quotes about how to treat your donors (from the Fortune 500)

Related Posts >> 5 Ways You Can Ensure That Your Supporters Never Feel “Donor Remorse” >> Words That Work: Phrases that Encourage Planned Giving Recommendations… Read More


Chasm between knowledge and ignorance in marketing and advertising

If you are spending your donors’ hard-earned cash on marketing (fundraising), you must watch this short video from one of my heroes – David Ogilvy… Read More


People won’t give til’ it hurts?

Sometimes I feel like I should make a list of all the silly things I hear fundraisers say. Here’s one I heard recently that just… Read More


It’s all about the "warm glow"!

Alaska’s residents are allowed to share in the revenue the state enjoys from investments in mineral royalties. In order to get their dividend, they have… Read More


Are we sometimes asking donors the wrong questions?

In Abila’s new donor engagement report, the first question they asked donors was, “What matters most to you?” Problem is… the answers they allowed were not… Read More


Stop swapping your donor lists with other nonprofits

One thing (among so many others) that I never understood about nonprofits is why they sell or swap lists with other nonprofits. It’s usually done with… Read More


When Brand Guidelines Trump Donor-centricity You Have a Recipe For Disaster

“Make the font smaller!” That’s what the brand police told me to do. I reminded them that the supporters we were targeting for the CGA lead generation effort… Read More


Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!

I just saw a video for a nonprofit’s planned giving department that made me sick. Truly nauseated.  In it, the fake actor/speaker said the word… Read More


What’s Wrong with “Ask > Thank > Report > Repeat”

My pal Steven Screen is one of the best fundraising copywriters in the U.S. Seriously! He and his friend Jeff Brooks have a great podcast… Read More


DUMB = Only Marketing Planned Gifts to Supporters When They Are About to Die

Recently I was reminded of a presentation at a conference that baffled me for two reasons:   BAFFLED REASON #1–  The “planned giving marketing expert” ran… 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


What Does "Value" Have to do with Raising Money?

When it comes to raising money, do you want more donors?  And, want more donors to give more? The only true way to substantially achieve both… 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


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


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