Putting a major gifts process in place doesn’t happen overnight; it takes a strategic cultivation plan tailored to each potential donor. But as we’ve seen time and again, the result is always worth the effort. Here are five important ways to improve your chances for success: 1. Know your “rights.” Is it bad timing? Am… Read more »
Donors want to see you making an impact on the community—but you need to make an impact on donors, too. One of the best ways to do both is through a well-designed and engaging case for support. A case for support is the basis of all your fundraising materials. Your case should outline your organization’s… Read more »
Courtesy of our Giving Institute Colleagues Dunham+Company Reprinted with permission Donors 40-59 years old are now the most likely to give online, countering the conventional wisdom that younger donors are more likely to give online, according to a recent survey commissioned by Dunham+Company and conducted by Campbell Rinker. The percentage of donors 40-59 years old giving… Read more »
It looks like 2015 was The Year of the Capital Campaign. According to the National Research Collaborative’s “Special Report on Nonprofit Fundraising Campaigns,” released Jan. 3, about 46 percent of nonprofits surveyed were in either a capital or a special campaign during the first half of 2015, up from 11 percent in 2011. Considering that… Read more »
The search for new donors can be costly and time-consuming … and let’s face it, as an arts and culture nonprofit, you’d rather be focusing on programs. What if I told you that’s the same place you should be looking for donors? Because the best prospects are already right under your nose, and already passionate… Read more »
Many holidays celebrate gift-giving… National Philanthropy Day celebrates those who give back. As we honor the individuals and organizations who set the standard for charitable investment, we have an opportunity not only to thank them but to learn from them. I hope many will follow their stories—and follow their examples. Americans reached a charitable-giving milestone… Read more »
It’s hard to believe, but we are only five weeks away from #GivingTuesday. This year’s national giving day will be celebrated Tuesday, December 1. Each year, the online giving phenomenon grows significantly. On #GivingTuesday 2014, over $26 million was given—and online donations rose 36% from #GivingTuesday 2013. The Curtis Group is excited to see how… Read more »
If you’ve worked in the nonprofit world more than a year, you might already be weary of the pressure to maximize year-end gifts. It’s not that different for your donors, who are often bombarded with requests as December 31 looms closer. The way you communicate your message is key to cutting through the clutter and… Read more »
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 »
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 »
