“I don’t give money away. I make investments. Before providing support to anyone I measure impact, I want to see how many lives my investment will touch. I will often compare the impact of the amount I am ask for with what kind of impact I am having somewhere else.”
non-profit
The Ask… Is it your “spot on the wall”?
Of the 2.1 million charities doing business in the United States, most enter the new year without an ask strategy. We don’t take the time to develop our 7-figure, 6-figure and 5-figure asks. We don’t have a case for support. We don’t even have a needs list. We get sloppy with our research and do not determine our supporters “donative intent” and giving capacity.
4TH Quarter Checklist – LYBUNTs: Are you making your list and checking it twice?
LYBUNT is an acronym that stands for “last year, but unfortunately not this year.” This is a term used frequently in the fundraising world to represent donors who gave your organization money last year but, who have not given you money yet this year. Fundraisers typically target this group of last year’s donors differently than people who haven’t made a gift at all.
Are You Building Trust With Your Major Donors?
If you want to see your donors step up and start making major investments in your charity or non-proft, then start treating them like you would a business partner or major investor. Meet with them, talk with them, but most importantly listen to them.
The 4th Quarter Blitz
Yes, it’s that time again. The 4th quarter has arrived and what play are your going to call? By any metric or system of measurement in fund development the last quarter of the year is the most important and the last week of the 4th quarter is by far the most profitable week for any not-for-profit organization. I often refer to this week as “golden week”.
A Check Up From the Neck Up
over time, fundraising procedures stacked one on top of another, can place an organization in a box that it cannot get out of.
Where Do You Find New Major Donors?
Major donors NEVER (or rarely) begin by making 5-figure and 6-figure gifts to your non-profit organization. Remember, major donors are NOT donors at all. They are investors! Major donors expect (some will even demand) to see a return on their investment before they increase their giving.
The Challenge…. 168 letters a year
Remember, the charity that gets the donation each day is the one that is “top of mail box”. Which letter each day will get the donors attention… and touch their heart? To quote a famous civil war general, “He who get’s there the firstest with the mostest wins…”
DRMG??? Is this a term your charity knows? Direct Response Major Giving…
Direct response major giving (DRMG) may look similar to traditional major gifts programs. Both strategies use face-to-face meetings and relationship building to cultivate a major gift, but their are stark differences.
It’s That Time Again… New Year’s Goal Setting for Your 2012 Fundraising
Unlike most people who call themselves “fundraising counsel” I am not one who wastes a lot of time with grandiose vision papers and colorful case statements. Every January I encourage charities to spend more time on practical, actionable events rather than writing beautiful superfluous words about their organization and cause.