Monthly Archives: August, 2010
Are You a Perfect 10?
You have identified and researched your non-profit’s top prospective donors. Now what? The next step is often a “Prospect Rating Session” with four primary goals: – Determine gift range by dollar amount – Discuss areas of potential interest and possible naming opportunities – Decide the best solicitor or team of solicitors – Develop timeframe and approach for [...]
Fundraising To Do’s or Not To’s
DO decide exactly what you want your development volunteers to do, then train, motivate and involve them. DON’T be afraid to ask for your development volunteers to help with specific tasks. It’s why they are there. DO focus on what’s going on in your donor’s heart. DON”T think just about “your” needs; think first and foremost about your [...]
Planning Essentials: A Staff-Volunteer Partnership
At least annually, consider scheduling a focused planning session with your key volunteers, then incorporate their thoughts and yours into your development calendar, goals, objectives and timetables. The advantages to this process are numerous: – Helps assure realistic goals and objectives based on historical data, your constituency and economic forces so goals can be challenging yet realistic – Involves the [...]
Fundraising Trends – Thinking Positive!
Like everyone else, fundraisers have weathered the economic storms, and we’re operating now in an increasingly positive environment. AFP President and CEO, Paulette V. Maehara, CFRE, CAE, reports in the July/August 2010 “Advancing Philanthropy” publication that there is statistical evidence from AFP’s “State of Fundraising Report” showing the highest level of optimism in three years. [...]
Don’t Travel Without A Map: Strategic Planning is the Guide To Your Success
Comprehensive strategic planning becomes necessary at some point in the life of every development program. Whether you hire outside counsel or assess internally, here are some basic guidelines to consider. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT – How is your organization doing in the annual, smaller gifts area, and how effective are your donor acquisition and retention programs? - Have your cultivation and solicitation processes [...]
Who Ya Gonna Call? Your Donors!
Telephone cultivation and solicitation can play an important role and help generate better overall results for your annual gifts efforts when combined with other marketing techniques. A telephone campaign can be aimed at donor acquisition, donor renewal, increased pledges or simply a thank-a-thon. A major benefit is flexibility as the script can be revised based on [...]
