One of my favorite DBD axioms is “Listen the gift.” We use this as we coach our clients through a major or transformational gift ask. Listening to our prospect is an important piece of the puzzle in creating a meaningful outcome for the donor and the organization.
After the disruption of the past four years, it seems a great time to pause and think differently – not just about the organization, changing demographics, AI, or the shifts in technology that are all affecting our fundraising, but about our donors. They are the heart of it all.
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Topics:
Donor Stewardship,
Stewardship,
Fundraising,
Financial Development,
Annual Fundraising,
Donor Engagement,
Donor Relations,
Fund Development,
Development
Many nonprofits wonder how to identify people who have DAFs and how to get their cause in front of them. It can be a little complicated but with some investigation into how the DAF is administered, you can find the person behind the DAF and start to share your mission and impact with them. Let’s explore...
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Topics:
Fundraising,
Financial Development,
Annual Fundraising,
Donor Engagement,
Foundation,
Donor Relations,
Fund Development,
Development,
Donor Advised Funds
Years ago, I was working with a very skilled major gifts officer. She had a donor, Elizabeth, who was in her 90s and who was very loyal to the organization. However, this staff member had tried contacting Elizabeth over and over through e-mail or by phone and leaving voicemails. As much as she tried diligently to get in touch with Elizabeth, she was unsuccessful. She started telling herself a variety of stories. Maybe something is wrong or she’s sick? Maybe I upset her with all my emails. Maybe she heard something negative about our organization? Maybe I offended her by asking her for money? Maybe she died?
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Topics:
Success Stories,
Donor Stewardship,
Stewardship,
Fundraising,
Donor Communications,
Financial Development,
Donor Management,
Donor Relations,
Fund Development
When you consider all the things you have no control over right now, it can be overwhelming. However, there is one thing you can control. People need authentic, caring connections with others now, maybe more than ever. And you, as a non-profit leader, can role model how to display that warmth and concern over the next couple of weeks.
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Topics:
Donor Engagement,
Donor Relations,
Relationship Building
Recently my family of four sat down to a "friendly" game of Monopoly. My two competitive sons and husband were eager to gobble up any property that became available to dominate the game and thereby be proclaimed Monopoly champion.
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Topics:
Donor Cultivation,
Donor Relations,
Relationship Building
Do you have a friend or a colleague who is GREAT at asking questions? You know, the person who always seems to just know more about the people and circumstances in their lives than others? They don't just draw you into conversation, they help you build a stronger connection through the interaction.
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Topics:
Donor Relations,
Cultivation,
Relationships
One of the more challenging aspects of annual fundraising for a nonprofit never fails to surprise me, and it’s a by-product of past success.
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Topics:
Annual Fundraising,
Donor Relations,
Cultivation