How do your major donors define “a life well-lived”? This is one of the key questions addressed in the 2015 Insights on Wealth and Worth Survey, conducted by the U.S. Trust. Since 1993, this periodic survey of wealthy individuals and families has highlighted differences and similarities in values and, ultimately, what motivates giving. This year,… Read more »
Posts By: cgadmin
Giving USA shows Americans donated record total
Where did the money come from, where did it go and how do we apply these trends to future fundraising? Milestone giving in a milestone year. What better news could I hope for in my term as chair of Giving USA Foundation? As the longest-running and most comprehensive report on charitable giving in the country, Giving… Read more »
How to write thank-you letters your donors will actually read
Acknowledgment letters are more than an obligation. They’re an opportunity—to build donor relationships, to educate and hopefully, to inspire future giving. But let’s face it, many of these missives leave us less than inspired. Do you read all the nonprofit thank-you letters you receive? Me neither. What’s different about the ones you do read? Here… Read more »
Do you know your economic impact? (hint: it will help you raise money)
As the economy continues its recovery, many nonprofits are considering long-delayed and necessary capital projects—new buildings, physical improvements, or expansions, all critical to the long term success of their organizations. As these organizations move through their fundraising steps, a key component they often overlook is the overall economic impact they have within their community. Information… Read more »
New giving projections raise new questions
What giving trends are you seeing in your nonprofit work? One comprehensive take can be found in the just-released “Philanthropy Outlook: 2015 & 2016,” developed by our Giving USA Foundation research partner The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and funded by one of our Giving Institute colleagues, Marts & Lundy. As chair of the… Read more »
Treat legislators like major donors
If you don’t tell them, who will? Elected officials need to know what matters to the nonprofit sector and to your organization—this was a key message of The Giving Institute’s webinar last week, in which I participated as a GI member. Jason Lee, general counsel for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, stressed how important this year… Read more »
Believe like a nonprofit. Behave like a business.
Too many nonprofits are rewarded for how little they spend, rather than for what they get done. This is the double standard that author, activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta called out during his recent visit to Hampton Roads. (I highly recommend watching his TED talk). His presentation about “The Overhead Myth” got our sector buzzing…… Read more »
How does last night’s State of the Union affect charitable giving?
As president for the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, I’m fortunate to receive timely information and updates about public policy at the national level. Jason Lee, general counsel for AFP, included an analysis in an email today regarding last night’s State of the Union address. In terms of an impact on charitable… Read more »
Top 5 pitfalls to avoid when thanking donors
Are you effectively thanking and engaging your donors? I often encounter well-intentioned nonprofits that are hurting their acknowledgment efforts through common mistakes: 1. Slow response. You risk losing donors—and donations—by waiting too long to send thanks. Some say that 48 hours is the ideal turnaround time, but if that’s not realistic for your organization, aim… Read more »
Resolve to focus on major gifts: 4 tips to get you started
I love New Year’s. I love New Year’s resolutions or really any reason to think fresh, set new goals and take stock of progress. If you’re like me, you’ve probably made one too many New Year’s resolutions you didn’t keep. What are your goals for your development program next year? If you want to focus… Read more »
