10 Confidence Boosting Tips for Scheduling More Visits
I used to be TERRIFIED of scheduling visits. Here are 10 things I did to build confidence in a system…
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Transforming Average Major Gift Officers into Great Major Gift Officers
❌ Average MGO: Shares lots of great information. ✅ Great MGO: Asks important questions and listens. ❌ Average MGO:…
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The Art of the Ask: How to Get the Full Amount from Your Donors
❗ THE DONOR BEAT YOU TO THE ASK ❗ We’ve all been there. You’re in the visit. You’ve been planning…
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Why Nonprofits Should Choose Growth-Minded Board Members Over Traditional Professionals
When choosing board members, so many nonprofits gravitate towards doctors, lawyers, and accountants. Why? I think partially because it’s easier…
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The Power of Follow Up: The One Question Every Major Gift Fundraiser Should Ask
I didn’t know I should be asking this one question when talking to donors: “When would be a good time…
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How to Respond Effectively to This Common Objection and Secure More Major Gifts
Have you heard this objection before? “I’ve been giving for 20 years. There’s nothing you can tell me I don’t…
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9 Secrets for Success in Major Gifts Fundraising
Here are Nine Things I Wish I Knew My First Year in Major Gifts 1. Stop talking so much. Ask…
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Why tracking fundraising calls is your key to success
NO ONE WILL SAY YES TO A VISIT… I’VE TRIED EVERYTHING! Really? Frequently I’ll talk to someone who is just…
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The Secret to Booking More Visits
DO THIS ONE THING TO BOOK MORE VISITS: The next time someone tells you they don’t want to visit… in…
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The Importance of Being Authentic in Major Gifts Fundraising
Getting started in Major Gifts… better learn to golf! ❌FALSE❌ Of course, if you like to play golf and it…
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Why you should never pay fundraisers a commission
Pay fundraisers well, but NEVER pay a commission. I became the highest-paid employee besides the CEO at my organization when…
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The $25,000 Reason Why Follow-Up is So Important
183 days. That’s how long it took Bob to mail in a check for $25,000 after I asked him for…
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Why you should pay your major gifts fundraisers more
One of the great insights Robert Kiyosaki shares in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad is this: Poor people say…
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The Worst Way to Start a Major Gifts Fundraising Call
“Is now a good time to talk?” This is one of the worst ways to start a call to schedule…
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3 Things You Must Define to Receive a $5 Million Gift
A friend of mine recently asked for a $5 Million gift. THAT’S A LOT OF MONEY! But in terms of…
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“I’ve never told anyone this before.”
If you’re working in major gifts and you’ve never heard this, you might need to alter your approach. Many of…
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How “Polite Persistence” Pays Off for Major Gifts Fundraisers
It took me 16 contacts over a 12-month period to get a visit scheduled with one couple. They then went…
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To Visit or Not to Visit: Choose Wisely
It doesn’t really matter if you go on a visit TODAY. It also doesn’t really matter if you DON’T go…
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Tips for hiring major gift fundraisers
“Let’s hire Johnny… He knows everybody!” Here’s the problem: Johnny is an idiot. Let me explain. So many times, organizations…
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What happens when you change your mindset
“I don’t want to waste your time.” Here is another common objection you will hear when trying to schedule visits.…
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Stop making assumptions about your donors
“Major donors like to give in their backyard.” I call BS! One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that…
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Do you have a job or do you have a mission?
“I was on a mission from God.” I met John the first year I started working in major gifts. John…
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Why your greatest enemy in major gifts fundraising is the status quo
This challenge had me angry for more than a week… “Pharmaceutical sales reps have 15 meetings per day. Why can’t…
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Stories are more important than metrics
I was once at a fundraising event supporting an organization that houses pregnant homeless women. I saw one of the…
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