How to Use The Gift Table

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on September 10, 2010

Gift Tables (also known as Gift Pyramids) are great fundraising tools for capital campaigns, major gifts fundraising, “fiscal year fundraising,” and even for major events. Starting with the basics: Prior to the beginning of every fiscal year, an NPO goes through its budgeting process and comes up with a (realistic, attainable) figure for how much […]

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Constructing The Gift Table

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on September 7, 2010

“Hank,” the email said, “can you send me a gift pyramid that my organization can use in preparing for a capital campaign.” My response leaned somewhat toward the academic…. Gift Tables and Pyramids are great fundraising tools, but their construction and usage are often very much misunderstood. They are most often associated with capital campaigns, […]

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Cultivating Major Donors

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 31, 2010

There are two categories of donor cultivation: the education about and the involvement in the programs/activities of the NPO … leading up to the solicitation and obtaining of the first major gift from non-donors; and, the ongoing education, involvement and recognition of prior donors leading up to their next major gift. But, before you can […]

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Leadership for a Major Gifts Program (Part 2 of 2)

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 24, 2010

Once your Major Gifts Committee has created it’s list of “Suspects,” they must pair (on paper) those people with individuals (volunteer leaders) who know them, who have access to them and can (and will) be involved in the process of turning those “suspects” into “prospects.” The volunteer leaders are your “Cultivators.” The Cultivators are the […]

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Leadership for a Major Gifts Program (Part 1 of 2)

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 17, 2010

The most critical factor in creating a MG Program is the availability and willingness of a Leadership cadre — volunteers who will accept responsibility for the success of that program. It is a “given,” in the creation of a major gifts program, that if you build a relationship with your “Friends”/“Prospects” that involves them — […]

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Honorary Board Members – The Truth and The Consequences

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 10, 2010

Many nonprofit organizations boast lists of honorary trustees, board members and/or directors. And the vast majority of those named individuals are “there” in name only. The question that must be asked is how does that benefit the NPO. There are two basic reasons why a person gets the “honorary” title. S/he may have been of […]

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The Non-Profit Advisory Board/Committee

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on August 3, 2010

In the nonprofit sector there are two types of “Advisory” groups: those that advise, and those that don’t. In my experience, Advisory Boards are created for just about any reason you can think of; but very often – in the non-profit sector, the term is a euphemism for a group of major donors who have […]

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The Planning Study: (Part #3 of 3 – Implementation)

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 27, 2010

Considering the two major objectives in conducting the interviews, determination how/if a program/project/activity should be implemented and beginning the cultivation of those folks who could help make it happen, it is essential, as with all serious development activities, that those interviews be face-to-face. You can’t be taken very seriously and you can’t read body language […]

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The Planning Study: (Part #2 of 3 – Preparation)

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 23, 2010

The first step in the planning study process is determining what it is that you want the study to accomplish. Second is the creation of a list of those folks you’d like to interview – a list that can be as long as you’d like … as long as you’re realistic. No one goes on […]

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The Planning Study: (Part #1 of 3 — Almost Always The First Step)

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on July 20, 2010

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 support and/or participate in your […]

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