Key giving trends for community colleges: A sector-specific look at GIVING USA

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, Executive Vice President. Topic: Giving USA, Higher Education.

As the pressure increases on institutional budgets and presidential performers, higher-ed development professionals have been required to step up their game. And it appears their efforts are paying off. Last month, our president Keith Curtis, immediate past chair of Giving USA Foundation, shared with the big-picture findings of Giving USA 2016: The Annual Report on Philanthropy… Read more »

7 steps to score a prospect meeting

Posted , by Abby Weber, Client Manager. Topic: Donor Prospects.

It seems like people are busier than ever these days, and trying to connect with a donor for an in-person meeting can be a challenge. For that reason, nonprofit professionals often rely heavily on mailings and emails to communicate with donors. However, making the effort to meet with prospective and current donors face-to-face is one of the… Read more »

What a Funder Wants: How foundations and corporations decide whom—and how much—to fund

Posted , by Keith Curtis, President. Topic: Funds and Funders.

We heard it straight from the source. Each year, key organizations that guide fundraising in our region come together at the sold-out Funders Forum, hosted by VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads. I was honored to be asked, once again, to moderate the panel at the April 6 event. In addition, our firm’s executive vice president, Wendy McGrady,… Read more »

5 ways to make your major gifts program a major success

Posted , by Victoria Dietz, Consultant. Topic: Major Gifts Programs.

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 »

Resolve to focus on major gifts: 4 tips to get you started

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, Executive Vice President. Topic: Major Gifts Programs.

I love New Year’s. I love New Year’s resolutions or really any reason to think fresh, set new goals and take stock of progress. If you’re like me, you’ve probably made one too many New Year’s resolutions you didn’t keep. What are your goals for your development program next year? If you want to focus… Read more »

Moving into Campaign: When to Say Go!

Posted , by Victoria Dietz, Campaign Manager. Topic: Preparing for a Campaign.

The latest edition of The Curtis Group e-newsletter, Raising Money: Winter 2014, outlined the four phases of a capital campaign. Additionally, our team recently hosted a webinar and conducted a training session through Tidewater Community College’s Academy for Nonprofit Excellence—all focused on campaigns and campaign readiness. Now, we will explore the transition from Phase One,… Read more »

Board Members as Askers, Ambassadors and Advocates

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Consultant and Marketing Director. Topic: Boards of Directors, Nonprofit Management.

In our 24-year history, The Curtis Group has spent significant time advising on how nonprofit management can work most successfully with their boards. We hear it a lot: one of the biggest challenges nonprofit executives face is getting their volunteer leadership to help raise money and a common complaint from board members is they aren’t… Read more »

Will Donors Give Less if Taxed More?

Posted , by Natalie McGaughey, development coordinator. Topic: Government.

A recent article in Philanthropy Matters examined the current Obama administration’s proposal on changes in charitable deductions for taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals. This proposal suggests reducing the value of itemized charitable deductions from 35% to 28%, and raising the marginal income tax from 35% to 39.6%… Read more »

Do you have a Succession Plan in Place?

Posted , by Lauren B. Fenn, Campaign Consultant. Topic: Nonprofit Management.

Most often people think succession plans are something corporations need to have, but nonprofits must also consider them. While the nonprofit sector employs approximately 61.2 million full and part-time employees in this country, it is an unfortunate reality that our industry has a somewhat high turnover rate. According to the 2010 Employment Trends Survey, a… Read more »