Recognizing the Anonymous Donor

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on January 14, 2015

In the context of charitable giving/fundraising, the anonymous donor is someone whose name will not be publicly linked to the gift they’ve made … or even if they’ve made a gift. Usually the recipient organization will know the name of the “anonymous” donor; but, consistent with the donor’s wishes, will not allow that donor’s name […]

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What’s Coming – The Next Eight Weeks of the Fundraising Blog

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on January 7, 2015

      January 14: Recognizing The “Anonymous” Donor by Hank Lewis “Recognition” is something done “for” the donor, not for the public. And, for recognition to be appropriate, it must be consistent with the needs of the donor. January 21: Getting To Know “YOU” by Jonathan Howard Every time I sit down to write […]

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We’re A New Organization. Where Do We Find The Donors?

By Tony Poderis on December 23, 2014

An all too common question … that usually arises far later in an organization’s forming process than it should have been asked. I always reply, saying, “Before you make commitments for expenses for which you may not have the funds, I suggest you begin with your Board Of Trustees. You should have on your board, […]

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Special Events: Why A “Tasting” Is An Essential Part Of Event Planning – Continued From Last Week

By Natalie Lewis on December 17, 2014

We have had many a tasting with delicious desserts that were not chocolate. So, when selecting one that was not chocolate, we usually added a plate of truffles to the table so people would not feel as though the meal was incomplete. A good caterer should also be a guide to all of the different […]

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Special Events: Why A “Tasting” Is An Essential Part Of Event Planning

By Natalie Lewis on December 10, 2014

QuestIon: Should I do a tasting even if I have worked with this caterer before? Answer: Absolutely. Question: Should I hire a caterer and then do a tasting? Answer: Absolutely NOT. In the past, people who were frequent event attendees tended to have great expectations, except when it came to food. There was a constant […]

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Revisiting The Gift Table

By Hank Lewis, MA, CFRM on December 3, 2014

I find it interesting that, of all the topics we’ve addressed in this forum, the Gift Table has consistently been at the top of that list. Gift Tables, or Gift Pyramids, are great fundraising tools for all modes of fundraising — capital campaigns, major gifts, “the Annual Fund,” and for Special Events. Prior to the […]

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Staff Involvement In Strategic Planning & Keeping in Touch With Donors

By Tony Poderis on November 25, 2014

This week, two short and to the point pieces from Tony !! 1. Staff Involvement In Strategic Planning Should/must nonprofit staff be involved in the strategic planning process ?? With all of the discussion that I’ve seen/heard on this subject over the years, with the range of positions respondents have taken – from the globally inclusive […]

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Dear Millennial, Pick Up The Phone. Love, Your Boss. (Part II)

By K. Michael Johnson on November 19, 2014

Many Millennials don’t love talking on the phone … especially with people whose numbers aren’t already programmed into our phones; and, many of us are terrible at it. In fundraising, however, phone skills are a must. This is a continuation of my posting on how to make more and better outreach calls – specifically, introductory […]

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Dear Millennial, Pick Up The Phone. Love, Your Boss. (Part I)

By K. Michael Johnson on November 12, 2014

Confession: I don’t love making phone calls. In fact, there was a time when I’d do anything to avoid calling prospects. Like many in my generation, I was far more comfortable emailing or texting, or even sending them messages through LinkedIn. Digital tools are great, but it didn’t take me long to realize that the […]

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Remind Your Donors to Give Stocks and Mutual Funds

By John Elbare on November 5, 2014

Stocks and mutual funds make great charitable gifts, yet many non-profits overlook them; and, donors may not think to make those kinds of donations, unless you remind them. Once donors learn about the tax advantages of donating stock, they often become consistent stock donors. Stocks and mutual funds are securities that represent an ownership interest […]

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