Connecting with Millennials: How Nonprofits Can Build Relationships with Tomorrow’s Leaders

Posted , by Victoria Dietz, Campaign Manager. Topic: Donor Communication, Donor Prospects, Fundraising.

The most recent AFP eWire featured three short, but informative, articles on tapping into the power of Millennials. Nonprofits know this influential generational group is more “connected” than any of its predecessors. But, how can the estimated 92 million members of the Millennial generation (born between 1980 and 2001) be motivated to effectively rally behind a… Read more »

Key Indicators of Planned Givers: Highlights from a Hampton Roads Gift Planning Council Event

Posted , by Keith Curtis, President. Topic: Planned Giving.

Last week the Hampton Roads Gift Planning Council hosted a presentation by Jeff Johnson of The Stelter Company. Jeff shared some key findings from research his company has conducted over the last few years on indicators and behavior of planned givers. I have summarized a few points below. • Among Americans age 40+, people who… Read more »

The Curtis Group Presents Fifth Successful Webinar: The Role of the Board in Fundraising

Posted , by Lauren Fenn, Consultant. Topic: Boards of Directors, Fundraising.

On February 20,  we offered a free webinar on “The Role of the Board in Fundraising.” This timely subject proved to be one of our most popular webinars yet with nearly 100 nonprofit staff and board members tuning in. Our extensive work with nonprofits over the past 24 years has provided us the opportunity to… Read more »

Tips for a Successful Annual Giving Program: Harris Connect Presents at AFP-HR

Posted , by Erin Phillips, consultant and marketing director. Topic: Fundraising.

This week at the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Hampton Roads luncheon, Kurt Worrell, general manager, Fundraising Solutions Division at Harris Connect, presented on the topic of annual giving. Kurt began with the statement that running a successful annual giving program can be time intensive and costly. However, he continued, it’s an integral part of any fundraising… Read more »

Engaging Board Members in Fundraising is Key to Success, Latest NRC Study Finds

Posted , by Erin Phillips, campaign consultant and marketing director. Topic: Board Development, Fundraising, National Research Collaborative.

The latest Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC) study on board member engagement in fundraising concludes, among other things, that board members serve two primary fundraising functions: helping the organization reach new prospective donors (access) and indicating the organization’s value to the community by their own association with the group (signaling). Here are some key findings: –… Read more »

The Giving Institute’s Eight Steps for Selecting Fundraising Counsel

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant. Topic: Fundraising, Nonprofit Management.

The Curtis Group has been a member of The Giving Institute for nearly five years. Established in 1935, The Giving Institute has been the thought leader membership organization for fundraising consultants and nonprofit services firms. One of the many resources they offer to nonprofit leaders is a list of the eight steps on how to… Read more »

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Fundraisers: Notes from Virginia Fundraising Institute 2012

Posted , by Erin Philips, Marketing Director & Campaign Consultant. Topic: Fundraising.

Last week The Curtis Group sponsored and attended the annual conference hosted by the Virginia Fundraising Institute (VFRI) in Richmond, VA. We have been involved in VFRI for nearly a decade and we always look forward to this gathering of fundraising leaders from across the Commonwealth. The conference, composed primarily of development professionals, provides an… Read more »

Make the Most of Your Data

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, Vice President. Topic: Donors, Fundraising.

Last week we participated in a webinar on donor databases titled “Data Data Everywhere. Mining for Gold in your Donor Database.” This hour-long discussion was conducted by Fundraising Success magazine and featured three presenters: Amanda Mallinger Reinartz, Manager Product Development, Metafile; Jodi Scheib, Vice President, Fundraising, DMW Direct; and Joe Hamilton, Director of Development, Franciscan Friars…. Read more »

Raising Money Like an Entrepreneur: “Selling” Advice to Nonprofits

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant. Topic: Fundraising, Nonprofit Management.

This week we came across an interesting article in our Twitter feed by Charles Moldow, a partner at a Venture Capital firm. Although the blog post from the website Tech Crunch is written for entrepreneurs seeking start up investments, there are clear parallels to be drawn for small nonprofits soliciting gifts from individuals. At the end… Read more »

Tracking the True Cost of Fundraising

Posted , by Natalie McGaughey, Development Coordinator. Topic: Fundraising.

Earlier this spring, The Giving Institute hosted an interesting webinar on “The Cost of Fundraising” presented by fellow Giving Institute member, Melissa Brown of Melissa Brown and Associates. Melissa began by pointing out the fact that there are a lot of gaps that exist in fundraising costs today. In fact, the majority of organizations only track… Read more »