Smartideas

Straight talk about major, mid-level and legacy gift fundraising to help you be a better fundraiser

What to do about planned gift marketing when you don't know what to do…

New subscribers to my blog get a survey asking them what topics they’d like to see me cover.  You can send me requests too at… Read More


The top 10 signs that it’s time to fire your employer

Most people I know are actually willing to earn less money as long as they love their job. Are you one of them? Do you… Read More


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 nonprofits do: They pay staff… Read More


How NOT to write a letter to your supporter community

Here’s the copy (below) from an old letter sent by my alma mater. In 2012 they achieved their goal and raised $1 billion but, in my… Read More


7 captivating ways to build trust so your fundraising efforts work better

Trust leads to commitment. Then it leads to retention, loyalty, major gifts and planned gifts. Here are 7 ways to build trust so your fundraising efforts work… Read More


Are face-to-face meetings with donors overrated?

When I first got into professional sales at Washingtonian Magazine I was taught that the only way to really sell anything was to get face-to-face… Read More


What to do with wealth screened data that’s "sitting on the shelf" unused

Wealth screening your data is a good idea! My firm doesn’t provide that service but there are plenty that can help you to determine who… Read More


"Dear donor, you rock! Here's why…" Jeff Brooks' powerful donor outreach formula

If you want to know how to communicate with your donors, I strongly recommend you listen to whatever Jeff Brooks says. Jeff is the Creative… Read More


Want the best of Smartideas for free?

I love my staff!! They are so thoughtful! They figured that some of our thousands of blog subscribers might want a super-concise book of my best blog… Read More


Show some donor appreciation!

Before I give you the secret and how it applies to your fundraising efforts, you should know that lots of people try to tell me how… Read More


What a terrific advertisement!

I really can’t say it any better than this ad thanks to LegacyVoice, a legacy administration and marketing firm based in the UK. Folks, it’s… Read More


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 of simple marketing efforts that… Read More


How to calculate how much revenue you could have with a mid-level donor migration plan to inspire major gifts

Recently, my friends at Veritus Group (led by two industry icons— Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels) determined the following: – Organizations WITHOUT a mid-level giving program… Read More


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 irrelevant #7. It lacks emotion… Read More


Why nonprofit budgets should be developed in alignment with strategies

One of our clients achieved extraordinary results last year. They generated more leads for planned gifts and uncovered more previously undisclosed legacy gifts than ever… Read More


Focus!

Thanks to Giving USA and Third Sector’s Gross Domestic Philanthropy report, we now know that the United States continues to be the most charitable nation on the… Read More


Why you should ignore Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go is a shiny object. A time waster for a fundraiser seeking serious results. It focuses on the lowest rung of the ladder. DO… Read More


Why fundraiser job titles suck and cost you a lot of money!

My pal Dr. Russell James is at it again. This time, he researched what fundraiser job titles inspire more engagement, connectivity, and giving. According to James,… Read More


How to use verbatims and digital body language to raise more money

Recently I was interviewed by Mazarine at Wild Woman Fundraising! You can hear the interview here. There’s one big point from the interview I figured you’d want… Read More


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 worse than someone else’s? Think… Read More


Finally, you can learn what words work to raise money!

Last year I worked with Dr. Russell James to present his findings on what words work to raise money (Check out the ground-breaking webinar titled… Read More


Do you have a 'commendation mindset'?

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” I recently saw that quote and it got me thinking that… Read More


Are you measuring the right performance metrics?

Einstein once said: “Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts.”We all know that measuring performance is essential… Read More


Top 10 reasons major and planned gift officers fail to generate results

# 10. Too much rapport building (not enough alignment of organizational needs with donor passions and interests) # 9. Talking too much; listening too little… Read More


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