Today I attended a successful call for one of our clients that resulted in a major gift from a local bank. The experience was a good reminder about the value of patience and the importance of having the right people at the table. First, in looking back, I realized that setting up this meeting took… Read more »
Posts By: cgadmin
What Will Your Legacy Be?
Last Thursday, Sept. 10, two notable events started me thinking about my contribution to the community. That morning, renowned leader and philanthropist Frank Batten Sr. passed away. That evening, Judge Richard Bray, president and CEO of the Beazley Foundation since 2002, was honored as Chesapeake’s First Citizen for 2009. As I drove home from the… Read more »
Frank Batten Sr.: 1927-2009
The world lost a remarkable human being when Frank Batten Sr. passed away this morning at 82. Batten’s life is evidence of just how much of a positive difference one person can make. Founder of Landmark Communications (now known as Landmark Media Enterprises) and a philanthropist and leader of the highest order, Batten was the heir… Read more »
Client Successes Prove Donors Are Still Giving
For months, we’ve been preaching that fundraising in a challenging economy can be successful if it’s done right. Here are three good examples that prove it. Bedford Hospice House has reached its $1.6 million goal and will break ground on a much-needed hospice facility in Bedford, Virginia, later this year. Lackey Free Clinic of Yorktown has… Read more »
Make Your Story Compelling
Earlier this week I made a presentation to a group of development professionals for Virginia’s community colleges. And I was reminded that these two-year colleges have become an important part of the solution for our nation’s demand for education. Our current economy has caused enrollments at community colleges to soar. If you live in southeast… Read more »
Should All Campaigns Have Goals?
Earlier this week I was called by a reporter for The Anniston Star in Alabama to comment on the lack of a campaign goal for the community’s United Way drive this fall. In the article, Sal Fabens, public relations director for United Way of America, said the organization is moving away from setting campaign goals…. Read more »
On the Road Again
We were on the road again this week, this time to exhibit and make a presentation at North Carolina’s annual Philanthropy Conference. The event drew some 420 fundraising professionals, and their overall mood seemed to be cautious about current fundraising but optimistic about 2010. Even though this year’s fundraising is still a concern, many development… Read more »
The Good News About Big Gifts
According to the latest biannual survey of fundraisers conducted by Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy, confidence in the fundraising climate is still low. The good news is that fundraisers are more optimistic about generating donations in the next six months. The expectations measure, as it’s called, was 72.8, an increase of about 10 percent over… Read more »
Introducing Focus on Philanthropy
Wow, what a time to launch our blog. After getting back from the Giving Institute Summer Symposium in Puerto Rico, I joined Wendy and Wesley in Charlottesville at the Virginia Fund Raising Institute (VFRI) conference. In between, The Curtis Group staff held our annual strategic planning session. So now we’ve got enough great info for a… Read more »
