3 questions every major donor asks themselves after they give
“What did they do with my money?” “Would my money yield more impact if I gave it to another organization?” “Do they make me feel good or… Read More
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Helping you qualify, cultivate and prioritize major donors and legacy supporters so you can have fun closing more gifts more efficiently.
Jan
20
2021
Jan
15
2021
Should you target market financial advisors in order to get more legacy gifts?
It depends. I find myself saying, “It depends” quite a lot these days. But, seriously, the decision to target market to financial advisors depends on… Read More
Jan
13
2021
Donor retention and donor qualification go together like peas in a pod
Some things just work best when coupled together. Peanut butter and jelly. Toothpaste and a toothbrush. Cookies and milk. Soap and water. Simon and Garfunkel. Get… Read More
Jan
08
2021
7 steps to decline donations you can’t accept
She was really ticked off because they wouldn’t accept her gift. One of my customers got the following response to a survey request: “Why on… Read More
Jan
06
2021
When it comes to "moves management," are you concerned too?
First, what are we really talking about when we say moves management? Wikipedia says, “moves are the actions an organization takes to bring in donors, establish relationships,… Read More
Dec
23
2020
Does Ask, Ask, and Ask Again Really Work?
Doing the same thing wrong over and over doesn’t improve results. I noticed a comment on a LinkedIn post recently that said, “Ask, ask, and… Read More
Dec
18
2020
Why QUALIFYING donors might be the silver bullet you’ve been looking for
First, there’s a lot of talk about donor retention these days. Don’t get me wrong. I believe it’s critically important to retain donors with awesome… Read More
Dec
16
2020
35 amazing ways to engage and involve your donors and supporters
If you’re stuck wondering how to involve your supporters with your mission, look no further. Here are 35 ideas from a stream of my consciousness…. Read More
Dec
11
2020
3 simple ways fundraisers can improve their LinkedIn profiles to land more meetings and raise more money
Most fundraiser’s LinkedIn profiles are screwed up! They look like resumes, not invitations. After all, are you trying to raise money or are you looking… Read More
Dec
09
2020
Are fundraising tricks and gimmicks worth doing?
An old book filled with timeless lessons. I was cleaning out a cabinet last weekend and I came across an old book I read long… Read More
Dec
04
2020
4 forces primarily responsible for making people charitable
According to the author of a book titled WHO REALLY CARES, Arthur C. Brooks, there are 4 forces in American life that are primarily responsible for… Read More
Dec
01
2020
Why Your Giving Tuesday Efforts Will Succeed Or Fail
Our sector is, once again, awaiting the results of Giving Tuesday without much thought about what value WE are giving to our supporters— and that’s… Read More
Nov
20
2020
5 Best Practices For Writing Emails to Major and Legacy Donor Prospects
1. Be truthful, no tricks! Ever! You cannot build relationships upon lies. Not even white lies. 2. Be relevant. To do that, you must consider… Read More
Nov
18
2020
Is donor qualification more important than donor identification?
Identification. If you are a major or legacy gift fundraiser, you’re probably responsible for a group of donors on your caseload or portfolio. The collection… Read More
Nov
13
2020
How to Reach Out to Your Major or Legacy Gift Prospects Using LinkedIn
You know major gift fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint. But your boss wants results now. So you screen your list for wealth. Or… Read More
Nov
03
2020
Dr. Russell James’ Top 10 Ways Your Supporters Can Give Wisely Before the Year Ends
I’m very thankful that Dr. Russell James has graciously shared 10 smart ways your supporters can give wisely before the end of this year. He… Read More
Oct
30
2020
If you want to hear how the best major gift officers succeed (and fail) in fundraising… look no further
A different frame of reference. Every once in a while someone comes along to change things. They say a few words differently or help you… Read More
Oct
26
2020
Top 10 Capital Campaign Mistakes Revealed
Can you add to this list? 1. Failure to conduct a feasibility study 2. Failure to pay attention to the results of the feasibility study… Read More
Oct
07
2020
Finally, the true cause of high fundraiser turnover!
Recently a lot of people have been writing about the high level of turnover among fundraisers in our field. As reported in The Chronicle of… Read More
Sep
30
2020
The worst way to start a conversation with a donor.
“Did you get the [information, brochure, or letter] I sent?” Has anyone really had great success starting an outreach call with this question? In my… Read More
Sep
23
2020
Are you a dictatorial boss or a dynamic nonprofit leader?
I think too many nonprofit leaders don’t really know how to lead. Instead they just boss people around. Having a title means you have authority…. Read More
Aug
31
2020
Product Updates: August 2020
Here’s a roundup of some major updates we’ve made to your MarketSmart Dashboard thanks to your feedback. Be sure to refresh your Dashboard once you’ve… Read More
Aug
31
2020
Why you should use nostalgia to promote more giving
I recently stumbled upon a neat paper titled Nostalgia: The Gift That Keeps Giving. Here’s a summary: Overview 1. Nostalgia is a very personal, social emotion that… Read More
Aug
28
2020
Here’s What Supporters “Buy” When They Donate to Charity
I think buying and donating are the same. Here’s why. When I give money to a charity, I am buying: A chance to be moved by… Read More
Get the book!
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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