These days you can’t be average. Average efforts deliver average results. If you want to raise more major gifts and generate planned gifts: Be exceptional Be innovative Deliver more value than is expected of you Use new media channels Deliver content that is entertaining and provides value Make your donors (or in this case… 4th grade students) feel good...

1. Humanity – Understanding human beings — really taking a deep genuine interest in their wants needs desires hopes and dreams. The best way to do this is by employing feedback loops that capture selfreported information and nonverbal digital body language (such as clicks views downloads timeonsite etc.). 2. Transparency – Openness builds trust. In 2009 Dominos Pizza’s stock price was...

Wealthy people are not necessarily philanthropists. But philanthropists are usually wealthy. When organizations develop their lists I think perhaps a little too much attention is paid to capacity while not enough attention is paid to uncovering a supporter’s philanthropic mindset and whether or not the organization’s strategic objectives align with their personal mission. Don’t get me wrong. Wealth screening is...