When Creating a Foundation/Support Organization for Fundraising is a GOOD Idea

By Gail Meltzer on March 19, 2013

A Posting by Gail Meltzer, CFRE From time to time, we are asked about the advisability of creating a separate private foundation to raise funds for an existing nonprofit. I’d like to offer an example of when such a foundation was a good idea and has provided great benefit. (Please note – I am not […]

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Nine Things Successful Proposal Professionals Do Differently

By Jayme Sokolow on March 14, 2013

This posting by: Jayme Sokolow Being a Success According to Dr. Heidi Grant Stevenson, a blogger for Psychology Today and the author of an intriguing new book, Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals (2011), even very bright people are often clueless when it comes to understanding why they succeed or fail. Recent research on […]

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Exploiting Clients’ Stories as Fundraising Tools !!

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on March 12, 2013

This posting by: Hank Lewis An issue was raised on a listserve: “I have become more and more concerned about the exploitation of clients and “their stories” as fundraising tools.” “How do you counsel clients about the ethics/morality of using client stories as appeals?” ========================= Whenever a question is posed about ethics/morality that includes the […]

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Using Credible Research To Write Compelling Needs Statements

By Lynn deLearie on March 7, 2013

This posting is by Lynn deLearie. I initially want to refer all readers to an excellent post about Needs Statements written previously on this blog by Andrew Grant (see the link at the bottom of this post). In that piece, “Impress Funders With Your Grant Proposal (Writing a “WOW” Needs Statement),” Andrew said that, “the […]

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Why Give to the Arts When People Are Starving and Homeless?

By Tony Poderis on March 5, 2013

This posting by: Tony Poderis That riveting question was actually written in the marginal notes of a proposal asking for funding for an orchestra; and, it was written by a trustee of a grant-making foundation during a meeting to review the proposal in question. Another trustee of the foundation, the one who presented the proposal […]

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Most Local CFC Applications due in March

By Carter McNamara on February 28, 2013

For local charities that want to apply to the CFC as an independent local charity (and not as a member of a federation), for most of the more than 200 regional CFCs, the applications are accepted between late February and the end of March. Each local CFC sets its own specific application deadline, and the […]

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Fundraising Ethics: My Definition

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on February 26, 2013

I’m not enough of a philosopher or debater to extend the discussion of ethics much beyond the development arena, so I’ll address the concept in that context; and, even though it sounds as if I’m making statements of fact, I acknowledge that these are my opinions and that not everyone would agree with me. The […]

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Why Have A Planned Giving Program?

By Tony Martignetti on February 21, 2013

Last month I defined Planned Giving. Why have a Program? I’ve got a few reasons. Build lifetime relationships. When a donor tells you they’ve put you in their estate or retirement plan, you’ve got the rest of their life to thank them. And you should take every opportunity. Draw them close to your work by […]

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Major Gifts … In a Strange Land

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on February 19, 2013

A Reader wrote: “Even after 18 years in development, and earning the CFRE credential, I still have a hard time making the mental adjustment from thinking about our clients’ and organization’s needs to thinking about the needs of the donor. And it’s a totally foreign concept to my Executive Director. “I also have difficulty understanding […]

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Reviewing and Polishing Your Federal Grant Proposal

By Jayme Sokolow on February 14, 2013

Grant proposals should go through a five-step writing process:   •  Plan: Think through your proposal section.   •  Organize: Use the grant guidelines as your outlining format.   •  Write: Write in a free-flowing manner.   •  Examine: Step back from your writing; review it later; then, let       others review it.   •  Revise: Emphasize clarity, conciseness, correctness, and persuasiveness. I already have discussed […]

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