Last week, Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates issued a challenge to the nation’s wealthiest citizens. They asked them to take a giving pledge and commit at least half of their net worth to charity during their lifetime or after death. Billionaires Eli and Edythe Broad took the pledge, saying they’ll give 75 percent of… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Fundraising
Percentage-Based Compensation: Why Not?
Three times in the last month I’ve been asked this question by nonprofit board members and leaders: Can we bring on a fundraising consultant and pay him or her a percentage of what’s raised? To someone in the business world, this results-based compensation approach may make sense. But in the world of fundraising, it’s highly unethical…. Read more »
Online Funding Contests: Worth Your Time?
Has your nonprofit taken part in the Pepsi Refresh project, Sears’ More Green Across America, eBay Fundraising Tournament for the Environment, or other voting-based funding competitions? This seems to be a growing trend among corporations. But if, for instance, you’ve waded through the six-point type on the seven pages of Pepsi Refresh guidelines, you’ll quickly… Read more »
Tuesday Fundraising Tip
Here’s our final (for now) tip on how you can remain a giving priority with philanthropists during this time of economic recovery: Invest in philanthropy. Today’s major-gift donors need to be certain that their gifts will be managed properly. They consider their giving to be an investment in a nonprofit’s future, so it’s vital to… Read more »
Tuesday Fundraising Tip
Draft a development plan and stick to it. Engage your volunteers in creating the plan. This is our ninth tip to remain a priority with philanthropists during the economic recovery. If you’ve engaged your board members and development committee in creating the plan, everyone should be in agreement on your fundraising goals, strategies, and tactics…. Read more »
Giving Institute Panel: What Skills Will Fundraisers Need in the Future
Last Friday, I was one of five Giving Institute members who served on a panel organized by editors of The Chronicle of Philanthropy and moderated by Holly Hall, a Chronicle features editor. The session was part of the Giving Institute’s conference, held in conjunction with the AFP International Conference that kicked off Sunday. Our panel… Read more »
Upswing in Corporate Giving? What It Means
An article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy last week reported that “cuts to corporate giving budgets are slowing this year.” A study by the Conference Board said 20 percent of the businesses surveyed plan to reduce their charitable giving in 2010, compared with 53 percent in 2009. While this is good news, it doesn’t mean… Read more »
How to Deal with Funding Cuts
In our recent travels to make presentations, conduct trainings, and meet with clients, we’ve been hearing a lot of talk about cutbacks in their government funding. Even human services organizations like free clinics, whose services are more in demand than ever, are losing state and municipal funding. The reality is, this may get worse before… Read more »
Should You Consider a Text-to-Give Option?
The buzz around the text-to-give option for charities has yet to die down since the Haiti earthquake. So much money was donated to the relief efforts this way that we’re still getting questions from nonprofit staff and board members who wonder if they should offer potential donors this option. A fellow blogger at “Future Fundraising… Read more »
Tuesday Fundraising Tip
Last week, we talked about the board’s role. This week, the board focus continues in our fourth tip to remain a philanthropic priority during the economic recovery: Help your board by having regular training sessions. A board member sharing his or her story with a potential donor is one of the most effective ways to raise… Read more »
