Corporate Giving: Strategies for Securing Support

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, vice president. Topic: Funds and Funders.

Last week Lauren and I attended the AFP-Hampton Roads luncheon presentation titled, “Building Strategic Relationships with Corporations and Foundations.” Amy Nisenson, Executive Director of the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, and Victor Branch, SVP/Market Manager for Richmond & Hampton Roads, Global Corporate Responsibility Office for Bank of America, were the two presenters. They began their discussion… Read more »

Tips on Converting Event Donors to Organizational Donors

Posted , by Wesley Stanley, Marketing Director. Topic: Arts & Culture, Donor Prospects.

We recently tuned in to an informative webinar on “Converting Event Donors to Organizational Donors” presented by fellow Giving Institute member, Event 360. The webinar, part of Giving Institute’s monthly series, opened by defining the characteristics of these two distinctly different types of donors—the difference being the individual’s degree of knowledge, connection, motivation and investment…. Read more »

Nonprofit Research Collaborative Releases New Study

Posted , by Wesley Stanley, Marketing Director. Topic: National Research Collaborative, Philanthropy Research & Events.

Earlier this week, the Nonprofit Research Collaborative released the results of its most recent Nonprofit Fundraising Study, which covers charitable receipts of U.S. nonprofit organizations during the 2011 calendar year. More than 1,600 nonprofits responded to the survey representing organizations with both large and small budgets and across all sectors from Arts, Culture and Humanities to… Read more »

New Year’s Advice, and Good News, For Nonprofits

Posted , by Keith Curtis, President. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

With 2012 off and running, we wanted to pass along some guidance that we shared earlier this week in a column for The Hampton Roads Business Journal, Inside Business. While fundraising remains challenging in our post-recession economy, nonprofits that are strategic in their approach and demonstrate effective programming will find success in raising money. We have… Read more »

How Should Nonprofits Operate?

Posted , by Lauren Fenn, Campaign and Communications Manager. Topic: Nonprofit Management.

Earlier this week The Wall Street Journal ran a series of interesting and informative articles online in the Philanthropy section that we felt inclined to comment on. One in particular, entitled “Should Philanthropies Operate Like Businesses?” was especially thought-provoking. The article poses the aforementioned question and sets up a debate between executives Charles Bronfman and… Read more »

Strategic Fundraising Events

Posted , by Keith Curtis, President. Topic: Fundraising.

While in Chicago last week for a Giving Institute board meeting we heard an interesting presentation on fundraising events by Jeff Shuck, President and CEO of Event 360, the Giving Institute’s newest member. Event 360 is a leader in the world of nonprofit event development and production, orchestrating events for some of the country’s largest… Read more »

Summer Symposium provides an abundance of thought-provoking takeaways.

Posted , by Wesley Stanley, Marketing Director. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

If you’ve visited our Facebook page lately you’ve seen some of our takeaways from the Giving Institute’s recent Summer Symposium. The annual event, co-chaired this year by Keith, drew a diverse crowd of Giving Institute board members, senior managers from member and guest firms, as well as distinguished practitioners from across the country. After four… Read more »

Women: A Distinct Piece of the Philanthropic Puzzle

Posted , by Keith Curtis. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

Representatives from Wachovia Wells Fargo recently presented to the Hampton Roads Gift Planning Council. Part of their presentation honed in on women in philanthropy and the fact that women are a distinct piece of the “philanthropic puzzle.” This is largely due to the growing amount of wealth controlled by women in the American economy. One… Read more »

What Do You Need From Your Board?

Posted , by Wendy McGrady. Topic: Arts & Culture, Boards of Directors.

In last week’s blog post, a board member talked about his expectations and role within a board. He shared his thoughts during a panel discussion that Keith and I led as part of a workshop for the Virginia Association of Museum’s Annual Conference. Friends and clients, Page Hayhurst, Executive Director, Carolyn Cuthrell, Director of Development, and Joe Witt,… Read more »

News Reports on Drop in Giving Omit Vital Facts

Posted , by Keith Curtis. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

You may have read or heard panic-inducing news reports this week about an 11 percent drop in charitable giving last year, the worst decline in two decades, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy. What wasn’t reported are vital facts about the Chronicle’s survey that will affect how you interpret it. Also unreported by mass media… Read more »