When we talk about donor’s rights, it seems like the conversation often centers around privacy issues. Another popular right is the ability to see the organization’s financial statements. This week there was a court case that will no doubt contribute to legal precedent concerning a portion of the Donor’s Bill of Rights. Section IV of … Read More →
I was consulting for a small organization led by a new Executive Director who had no fund raising experience. Typically I try to stay away from going on solicitations as a consultant, rather I help devise strategy and provide training to build capacity. This particular ED was deathly afraid of asking for money so I … Read More →
Back in the day I had an executive director who did not like me to publicly announce large gifts to the organization. She felt that if the community and/or donors perceived that we had too much money, it would impact our fund raising negatively and we would encounter financial distress. She believed that donors want … Read More →
There is some disagreement in the fund raising world surrounding how to get meetings with donors. Every time I speak to a different development professional, I often hear a different strategy. Some people I have met would have a promising career as a Secret Agent with the NSA if they were interested in that type … Read More →
One of the questions that I often get from young fund raisers working in direct marketing is ‘how often should I mail my donors?’ This is an interesting question, and you can get a different answer every time you ask a different person. I will throw my perspective into the fray, and I hope that … Read More →
As we are trying to raise awareness and money, we often reach out to businesses and organizations and start ‘at the top.’ It makes sense, doesn’t it? We want to find the decision maker. The person who can make things happen. The ‘top dog.’ Sometimes, however, that is not necessarily the best approach. Let me … Read More →