Because promoting philanthropy is our life’s work, we felt the need to comment on a series of articles, as well as an editorial that ran in our local newspaper, The Virginian-Pilot, over the past several days on “professional fundraising companies” (i.e., telemarketing firms and professional solicitors, who differ greatly from professional fundraising counsel like The Curtis Group)…. Read more »
Posts Categorized: Donor Communication
Engaging the Millennial Generation
In our latest enewsletter sent out Tuesday, Wendy wrote about differences in giving by generation. Great minds think alike—this week Giving USA issued a Spotlight report on “Charitable Giving and the Millennial Generation.” It’s packed full of data on the philanthropic differences among generations, along with recommendations on how to engage and cultivate millennials. Comprising… Read more »
The Common Courtesy of Stewardship
At the Giving Institute Summer Symposium last month, a representative of a major national corporation who sat on a panel of philanthropists offered good advice to nonprofits about giving and stewardship. One request he made concerned nonprofits to which his foundation has made a gift. He said he would appreciate a call from a board… Read more »
Even Online, It’s All About Relationships
At the Hampton Roads Institute for Nonprofit Leadership Conference last Friday, I went to a good workshop by our Giving Institute colleague Jay Love of eTapestry. It was called “The Internet Unveiled: The Newest Tools & Website Trends for Relationship Building,” with the key words being “relationship building.” Jay’s message was to make sure your online… Read more »
Donor Stewardship: Need Your Thoughts
For the last five years, a good friend of mine has given $750 a year to a nonprofit that serves people in need. It’s a worthy cause, no doubt, and my friend understands that the need has grown. He noted that in the last six weeks, he’s received three direct-mail appeals from the organization. But… Read more »
Are Donors on Your Gratitude List?
With Thanksgiving upon us, it seems appropriate to talk about the importance of thanking donors. Everyone likes to be thanked for a gift. When it’s a charitable gift, donors also appreciate knowing what their money helped accomplish. It’s important that development professionals and their board members are doing simple but powerful things like sending handwritten thank-you… Read more »
Rules of Engagement
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 »
The Case for Emotion
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 »
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 »
