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It can’t only be about death and taxes. Stop offering your supporters calculators they can’t understand. Stop offering them a so-called opportunity to be in… Read More
You may already know that MarketSmart helps nonprofits engage with their supporters in a way that keeps them highly involved and committed— so they give more. … Read More
I know… I am always telling my clients to stop bragging about themselves. It’s about the donors. They make you great. They give you the… Read More
There’s an acronym — K.I.S.S. — that seems like it might have been developed just for marketers: K – Keep I – It S –… Read More
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
Here’s a sort of “Greatest Hits” list. Each post containing outstanding tips that will help you develop a solid planned gift marketing strategy. Read these… Read More
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
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
Here are the potential downsides to telemarketing for planned gifts: 1 – The cost could be high; 2 – The calls are usually interruptive, inconvenient and… Read More
1. Generate leads using social norms, family reminders and non-death-related packages Social norms = “Many of our supporters have done this too!” Family reminders =… Read More
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
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
1. Disclosers – For these folks (breaking into two basic categories) you need to remember that, unless their gift is irrevocable, they are still prospects. “YES, LET’S… Read More
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
Sometimes our new clients get all jazzed about having a calculator on their planned giving website. I guess they feel it’s important to provide a… Read More
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” – Martin Luther [German friar, priest… Read More
Feeling like your job is getting harder because donor expectations have changed and competition for the charitable dollar is growing?
Finding that the old orthodoxies and conventions espoused by so-called experts in online echo-chambers and at conferences don’t work anymore?
Want to help more people make impact by facilitating their acts of philanthropy but feel like too many obstacles keep getting in your way?
Then this book is for you.
Engagement Fundraising was developed from the perspective of a donor who discovered firsthand that the impersonal, spray-and-pray approaches of his beloved charity were not only offensive but also wasteful and ineffective. So he took action. And now, you can too.
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