Saying thank you seems like such a simple thing to do. And yet, in development, it is probably the single most important thing you can do. What does it mean to say, “thank you”? When do you thank someone? How do you thank them? And who is the “them” that you thank? Let’s look a…
More money is probably “left on the table” following a solicitation visit than actually “walks out the door” in the form of a signed pledge card. Too many development officers/solicitors hurry or rush the solicitation process, diminishing the charitable gifts for the organization or school they represent. The following are suggestions to help maximize your…
This pyramid demonstrates the progression of donor involvement. Smaller gifts, i.e., annual giving, would occur at the bottom. Wills, bequests and major gifts would occur at the top. While giving can occur at any level on the pyramid, major gifts normally only occur at the top.
There is no doubt that fund-raising is an art. The art of making small talk and the art of cultivating a relationship. There are numerous books describing in great detail how to develop the art of relationship fund-raising. But, successful fund-raising is more; it is also a science. And, it can be summarized in three…
Webster defines “contact” as: “…an establishing of communication with someone or an observing or receiving of a significant signal from a person …” If you’ve been in fund-raising for even one day, you’ve been told about “contact reports.” The purpose of this article is to: help you understand the importance of contact reports outline what should be included…
