Show Me … Don’t Tell Me: Say It With Video

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on September 14, 2016

Share your message in an effective medium. Allow video to be used to get your message out there. How else can you let your audience in on the amazing things your organization does on a daily basis? Let people know all about who you are, the impact you have on our world and the way […]

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Video – An Often Overlooked Development Tool

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on September 7, 2016

When was the last time you watched something that really moved you? Brought you to tears? Evoked the warm-and-fuzzies? Took you back to a life changing experience? Made you feel differently about an issue, an organization, a person or group of people? Last week’s posting discussed a vivid example of video as a development tool. […]

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Using Video in the Development Process … And Increasing Dollars

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 31, 2016

A number of years ago, we used a video recording as part of the capital campaign solicitation of 14,000 prospects for a 1,200 student (150 year old) college. The “footage” was shot at various times during the school year and edited for various uses. One application was as an introduction in the face-to-face solicitation of […]

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Corporation Solicitation Programs: Not For Every Nonprofit

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 24, 2016

In considering the creation of a Corporate Solicitation Program (a CSP), the first questions I’d ask of a nonprofit is whether they realize that only five-percent of all “charitable” giving to nonprofits comes from corporations, and (considering “return-on-investment”) how much of their time, energy and assets do they want to dedicate to this effort? That […]

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The Gift Table: An Essential Fundraising Tool

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 17, 2016

Gift Tables/Pyramids are great fundraising tools, but their construction and usage are often very much misunderstood. They are most often associated with capital campaigns, but are also great tools for major gifts fundraising, for “fiscal year fundraising,” and even for major events. Prior to the beginning of every fiscal year, an organization goes through its […]

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The Planning Study: Implementation

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 10, 2016

Continuing from last week’s posting…. As it will not always be appropriate to run down the prepared list of questions with every interviewee, the interviewer must be able to “read people,” must be able to know when to forget the prepared questionnaire and just chat with Mr./Ms. Jones about the NPO’s issues and possible futures. […]

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The Planning Study: Conceptualizing & Preparing

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 3, 2016

Want to create a Major Gifts Program, a Bequest Program, a Special Event, a Recognition Program, a Capital Campaign ?? The most important information you’d want to have is whether your (prospective) constituents/donors will agree with what you want to do, and what would motivate those folks to want to participate in and/or support your […]

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Leadership: The Key to a Successful Major Gifts Program

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 27, 2016

The most critical factor in creating a Major Gifts Program is the availability of a group of volunteers and professionals who will accept responsibility for the success of that program. This Leadership Cadre, which should (ideally) include one-or-two savvy and committed Board Members, must include a couple of current (preferable) or soon-to-be major donors, the […]

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Ensuring The Future of Your Nonprofit: Major Gifts Are The Way

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 20, 2016

The biggest mistake that many non-profits make is believing that grants from corporations, foundations and government will continue, or (even) increase, over the long-term. Historically, those sources of funding for specific programs either remain the same or decrease – especially during rough economic times. While overall costs of operation tend to rise, few foundations or […]

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Top Ten “Rules” of Fundraising

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 13, 2016

1. All Board Members Must Be Donors … to the best of their ability. Not all board members are wealthy, but everyone should give at the highest level possible for their circumstances. It is important to be able to say to the public that 100% of your board supports your mission to the best of […]

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