How to discover planned gifts using interns because you can't afford a telemarketing firm
1. Make sure the intern cares about your mission 2. Have the intern view videos, read reports and talk to…
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RIDDLE: How do you measure the success (or failure) of your planned giving program?
Today I’m very proud to provide a guest post written by one of MarketSmart’s brilliant, yet curious, Account Managers—Lizzie Weiland. She’s…
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Here's why when it comes to planned gifts, it isn't necessarily ALL about the relationship
I have two questions that I ask people when they say that planned gift fundraising “is all about the relationship.”…
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Why everyone talks about segmenting emails but hardly anyone ever does it
They’ll talk about it at conferences. You’ll read about it in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Online discussion groups will say…
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5 things great nonprofits do (according to Veritus Group)
Veritus Group knows more about fundraising than most people learn in a lifetime. Here’s some of their wisdom: 5 things truly great…
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5 things you should do when you get a big bequest (to ensure that your marketing budget increases!)
My pal (Tricia Benson) used to work at Human Rights Campaign. During her tenure, we helped her conduct a couple…
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The top 10 reasons why your donor outreach fails
Here’s a list of top 10 reasons why your donor outreach fails: #10. It’s boring #9. It’s impersonal #8. It’s…
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Stop complaining because your success is up to you
All of us have been there. Sometimes we find ourselves stuck in situations that just plain suck! Think yours is…
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5 lessons fundraisers can learn from Subway (Yes! The sandwich shop)
Here are 5 great lessons fundraisers can learn from Subway: 1. Ask for feedback. 2. Say please. 3. Use the…
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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…
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A harsh reality most fundraisers don’t want to face
What donors value is often their time without you and not their time with you. Ouch! Yep! That’s right. I…
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Dr. Russell James' Greatest Hits: Free fundraising webinars and eBooks
Want more interesting research from Dr. James? Here you go: News from the Ivory Tower: Webinar Words that Work:…
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Why the difference between “we” and “they” is so tremendous?
First, a really quick story. I was flying home from a speaking engagement last week when I found myself sitting…
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Serious major gift marketing is not for populists. Planned gift marketing is.
I like populism because it gives regular people control over their government. But populism has no place in major gift marketing.…
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How to get tremendous satisfaction from satisfaction
You can actually get more job satisfaction by satisfying the wants needs and desires of your donors, board members, volunteers…
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9 ways nonprofits are conning and duping supporters (all of which you should do without)
New donors, are testing you out. But many feel duped. I think that’s why retention is so low. Everyone hates…
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The easiest way to grow your Legacy Society (5 super-simple steps)
Everyone wants planned gifts. But so few invest the time and money necessary to inspire them. Events, annual fund mailings, operation…
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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…
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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…
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It ain't friendraising… it's fundraising
Popular opinion is wrong. Usually, it is believed that extroverts make the best sales people (and fundraisers). But, according to…
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Why you should join mastermind groups instead of attending conferences
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you probably know that I don’t really like conferences that much. …
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How NOT to design the perfect fundraising campaign
Today I would like to discuss how NOT to design the perfect fundraising campaign. According to The Telegraph newspaper in the…
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Why less is always more and how to get more from less
Less is always more. Subtraction always adds value. Ever wonder if your nonprofit is trying to do too many things and trying…
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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…
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