Planned Giving

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

24 amazing benchmark reports on fundraising all in one place

If you’re like me, you like to noodle data and scratch your head a lot. I’ve done so much head-scratching that my hair is almost… Read More


15 telephone call don'ts for major and legacy gift fundraisers

Two days ago I outlined my “do’s“. Today, here are my “don’t’s”. Both can be found here on this cheat-sheet. 15 Don’ts Be disingenuous. For… Read More


Should you create a separate Facebook page for major (and/or planned) gifts?

In most cases I don’t recommend doing so. Instead, I think you should piggyback on your organization’s existing social media. They’ve already got the “likes”…. Read More


4 reasons to focus on major gifts (including major legacy gifts)

1. 3% of U.S. Households are responsible for 67% (2/3) of all household charity (according to the 2011 Bank of America Study of High Net… 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


Your supporters want a polyamorous relationship with you and your organization

Polyamorous relationships are non-exclusive. Therefore, your supporters will cheat on you. They will cozy up to other organizations (your competitors). They will come and go when… 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


Do people prefer when others pay for a nonprofits’ administrative costs?

I know, I know… Dan Pallota thinks charities need a defense council to inform the public that administrative costs are a necessary part of a… Read More


The Secret: Why People Really Make Major Gifts and Bequests

So you want to know the real reason why people make major gifts and bequests? Ok. But first, I must share a quote. Confucius once… Read More


4 reasons why you should spend less time telling donor stories and more time getting your supporters to tell you their life stories

I bet you already know that each and every one of your supporters has a unique reason why they first got involved with your organization—… Read More


Everything you need is already in your database

In the late 1800’s, a motivational speaker gave a speech over 6,000 times.  His name was Russell Conwell and his traveling lecture was titled Acres… Read More


Why do Nonprofits Give Their Staff Such Terrible Titles?

I have always felt that the word “fundraiser” stinks! As a donor, I feel like “fundraiser” screams “salesperson”. When a fundraiser calls me, I know… Read More


Ya Gotta Give ‘Em Value

Too often people engage with charities but get very little in return. Yet, they keep trying.   They’ll involve themselves with your charity over and over… Read More


Imagine If You Could Set Up a Meeting With a New Major Donor Every 92.13 Minutes

Thanks to engagement marketing (for private businesses – like MarketSmart!) we have driven up our conversion rate for setting up meetings with fundraisers. Now we are… Read More


3 Actions You Can Take if Your Nonprofit Website Looks Like a Brochure and Acts Like a File Cabinet

Most nonprofit websites really stink!    There, I said it.   Why? Because they are simply online brochures or, worse, filing cabinets of stuff you… Read More


Your Job is NOT to Raise Funds

You are not a fundraiser. You are, instead, an engagement facilitator. Tweet this! And, the purpose of your engagements with donors is to discover why… Read More


Engagement is Everything!

Hi-end hotels = Service is everything   Amazon.com = Convenience is everything   Hardware tools = Reliability is everything   Home alarm systems = Security is… Read More


5 Ways to FAIL at Major and Legacy Gift Marketing (and 3 Ways to SUCCEED)

Ways to fail 1. Listen to your marketing staff, family, friends, board members, or your “gut” 2. Listen to your donors (even they do not… Read More


Know Me, Like Me, Trust Me

Fundraisers can learn a lot from private business experts and entrepreneurs. One of my favorite bloggers, Thomson Dawson, recently wrote a post about his strategy for… Read More


Two Smart Ways to Acquire New Major Donors

Recently I was asked to attend a nonprofit’s Board of Directors meeting.  My client wanted me to present some data about the results we’ve been… Read More


How to Use Crowdfunding for Major Gifts to Generate Tons of Revenue

Crowdfunding is growing.  In 2012, the amount of funds raised from this amazing technological innovation hit $2.7 billion (yes, with a “b”). That was an… 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


9 Questions Fundraisers Need to Ask Themselves In Order to Improve in 2014

Commercial businesses and charities both have to fulfill needs in order to survive.  But whose needs do they serve? You might think that commercial businesses… Read More


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