Just a quick note about some articles you might find helpful at these links: New York Times’ special section on giving The Wall Street Journal article, “What’s Wrong With Charitable Giving — and How to Fix It” Philanthropy Journal’s “‘Tis the Season to Engage Donors” by our own Keith Curtis.
It’s ironic that as the country prepares to celebrate National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15 (the local event is Nov. 12), CNN recently added “fundraiser” to its list of the “Top 15 Stressful Jobs That Pay Badly.” “No matter the cause,” the article reports, “asking people to part with their money is not easy. And it… Read more »
A new report just released by the Foundation Center says that in 2010, foundation giving will drop more than was predicted earlier this year. Half of 583 grantmakers surveyed said they will keep their giving steady at 2009’s reduced levels. Of the rest, 26 percent expect to decrease their giving, 17 percent will increase it, and… Read more »
People who haven’t done major fundraising sometimes hold misconceptions about how the process works. We’ve had questions recently about whether we can guarantee fundraising results or bring our own list of potential donors to a new client. The answer to both questions is no, because both are unethical. As a member of the Giving Institute,… Read more »
Recovery in charitable giving might occur faster than it did in prior economic downturns, according to a new report from Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. In their latest “Giving USA Spotlight” issued this week, researchers note three factors that could make the difference: – Income is higher per capita… Read more »
You know how we’re always saying you need to ask for major gifts in person? A new study by Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy and Campbell & Company, “Significant Gifts: Where Donors Direct Their Largest Gifts and Why” proves us right. The study reports that donors who were asked to give in person (to secular… Read more »
With the economy improving, the good news is that end-of-year donations may be up over 2008. But don’t count on your year-end appeal to save you from a down year in fundraising. The Chronicle of Philanthropy just reported on how several charities are approaching fundraising season. One nonprofit director said that because their first year-end… Read more »
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job with The Curtis Group is writing case statements for our clients, for two reasons. First, as a writer, it allows me to get lost in a project for a bit, to “zen” on it, as creative folks say. Suddenly the day is over and I don’t even… Read more »
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 »
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 »
