Your Board Members Can Become “Door Openers.” Here’s How!
Board Development, Capital Campaign, Friendmaking, Major Gift Fundraising, Motivating Board MembersWhat would you MOST love your board members to do? Many nonprofit ED's tell me that - of all possible things - they wish their board members would simply open doors. That's all. Just open doors. But what happens when you ask board members…
Major Gift Prospect Visits: Your Questions and My Ruthlessly Practical Answers
Fundraising Strategy, Major Gift FundraisingVisits with major gift prospects can be scary. How do you handle them? What do you say? Here are my answers to all your questions from last week's webinar: Q: What if your donor hijacks the conversation and you lose control? That will certainly…
No Time for Planned Giving? Try These Quick Ideas!
Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising, Planned Giving I'm as fired up as I can get about something big these days: planned giving. I know, I know -- you've heard it before. "Jump on planned giving," the consultants say. "I can't," you say back. "I don't have the bandwidth." Okay, I get that. But…
How Major Gift Fundraising is Like Being Mother of the Bride
Fundraising Strategy, Inspiration, Major Gift FundraisingBeing mother of the bride has been an experience in "letting go." And it reminds me of how I have had to "let go" with some major donor prospects. Because they just wouldn't, wouldn't focus on what I wanted them to fund! Let me tell you the…
Three Easy Secrets to Major Gift Success
Capital Campaign, Donor Cultivation, Major Gift FundraisingMajor gifts programs can become a money-raising machine for your wonderful cause. Here are three secrets that will dramatically improve your results from your fundraising activities and events. 1. Narrow, narrow, narrow down your focus. Restrict…
Count Your Blessings and Appreciate Your Donors at Thanksgiving
Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising, Year-End Fundraising CampaignIt's the week of Thanksgiving here in the U.S. and we are counting our blessings. As you consider what you are thankful for, perhaps you might remember your DONORS - the wonderful people who make the work of your organization possible. I think…
Step-by-Step Cultivation Moves for Your Major Gift Prospect
Donor Cultivation, Major Gift FundraisingTry these cultivation moves with major gifts prospects. They can help build your donors' enthusiasm, engagement and gifts.
4 Steps to a Transformational Gift
Capital Campaign, Major Gift FundraisingTransformational gifts are the most amazing gifts of all. They are largest and most significant gift an individual will ever make. Isn't securing a transformational gift your ultimate dream? These gifts bring funding that can completely transform…
Show Me the Money: How to Move From Friendraising to Fundraising
Annual Giving, Asking for Donations, Friendmaking, Major Gift FundraisingIn my regular column I write for the Guidestar newsletter, a smart reader sent me the $64,000 question: "All your talk about "friendraising" is great, but show me the money! My organization needs funding right now!" You're exactly right to focus…