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Use Donor Data to Inform Strategy

The Bad News

According to the latest report from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), year-over year growth in contributed support fell nearly 2% during the final quarter of 2022.

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Topics: Nonprofit Management, Nonprofit Leadership, Donor Management, Donor Prospect, Data Management

CAPTAIN OF THE KICKBALL TEAM

Posted by Nathan Sprenger

Whether we realize it or not, each of us has been applying data to decision-making processes since our youth. Remember that time you were selected to be the captain of the kickball team? The pressure of selecting the best team rested solely on YOUR shoulders. If you were like me, a million strategic thoughts went through your head as you tried to recruit the best team to ensure you won the game. The first step was evaluating the group of classmates staring back at me. What do I know about them? Are they a fast runner? A good kicker? A good fielder? My friend? After quickly assessing the answers to those questions, the selection process began.

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Topics: Donor Cultivation, Fundraising, Strategy, Donor Prospect, Donor, Nonprofit, Prospect, development team

INDIVIDUALS VS TEAMS

Posted by Danny Maier

Bo Schembechler Source

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Topics: Major Gifts, Annual, Capital, Donor Prospect, Giving Usa

THE MYTH OF THE BIGGER SLICE

Posted by Danny Maier

Unless you live in a cave, you will have noticed it is election season in the U.S. Whatever your political – or apolitical – persuasion, you probably are agog at the amount of money raised by the political candidates and how quickly it is spent. Poof.

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Topics: Annual Fundraising, Donor Pyramid, Donor Prospect

WHO ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS?

Posted by Mike Bussey
Thank you for asking, but we’ve already made an endowment commitment to your organization.

If you’re visiting with your best endowment prospects, invitations to become members of your legacy society quite often produce this response. And it is gratifying to hear! The challenge is to identify your best endowment prospects – your organization’s “best friends.”

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Topics: Endowment, Donor Prospect, Planned Giving

STOP TALKING

Posted by Bruce Berglund

Recently I was enjoying lunch with a client team. At one point in the animated conversation, one of the development staff handed a card to her colleague. It was a simple white business card with only two words:

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Topics: Donor Cultivation, Major Gifts, Donor Prospect

PAUSE, STOP, RELAUNCH: PART II

Posted by Bruce Berglund

Last week, we started a discussion about what to do when you find your campaign at the bottom of the dip and stalled. There are four key elements to every campaign – case, leadership, prospects and a plan. Today we’ll consider the importance of prospects and a plan.

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Topics: Leadership, Capital Campaign, Donor Prospect

CAN I SHOW YOU AROUND? 13 TIPS FOR A GREAT DONOR VISIT

Posted by DBD Team

One of the best ways to deepen the connection between a donor and your organization is to let them experience your program in action. Whether that’s a site visit or a chance to talk with program alumni, a great donor visit can do more than any brochure or talking point ever will.

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Fundraising, Donor Prospect

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