2 min read
How to Create Equivalency Language
If you go to the Feeding America website right now, the very first thing you will see is $1 = 20 meals. It’s simple and effective. The organization is showing you the actual impact of every dollar...
Passionate Giving BlogTM
2 min read
Learning How to Think Before Applying AI Tools
As a Veritus coach, it seems like leadership and fundraisers are obsessed with speed. How can we make the research go faster? How can we get the data faster? How can I find information faster? This...
2 min read
Are You Talking Too Much During Donor Conversations?
I was reviewing some of my go-to coaching resources recently and came across a great article from the Harvard Business Review on talking too much. The author refers to career coach Marty Nemko’s...
2 min read
The Top 5 Qualities a Development Director Must Have to be Successful
Do you have what it takes to be a great Director of Development? For a long time at Veritus, we’ve said one of the toughest jobs in fundraising is being a front-line fundraiser. And I still believe...
2 min read
Why You Might Feel Alone as a Fundraiser (and How to Fix It)
When I was a development director, there were times I felt really alone. Especially when things weren’t going well.
3 min read
How to Get Back Your Time as a Non-Profit Manager
If you’re leading a non-profit, you probably didn’t sign up to spend a big part of your day worrying about whether your fundraisers are doing the right things.
3 min read
The Myth of Doing It All Yourself
I have a confession. As someone who is an achiever and a perfectionist by nature, I sometimes have a bad habit of trying to handle everything myself. Not just because I want to make sure it gets done...
2 min read
Stock Gifts Are Just Another Way to Transfer Value
Gifts of stock are not as complicated as you might think. Yes, there are some technical aspects. But just like every other kind of gift, it starts with knowing your donor: what they care about, what...
3 min read
One of the Biggest Barriers to Major Gifts (And How Leaders Can Remove It)
“I don’t have anything to present to donors.” A major gift officer said that to me a while ago. And before I could even respond, their manager jumped in, clearly frustrated.
3 min read
Why Your Mid-Level Officer Is Set Up to Fail Before They Even Start
Hiring a Mid-Level Officer feels like a big step forward. And it is! You’re signaling that you want to build a stronger pipeline, not just chase short-term revenue. But here’s what happens more often...
3 min read
The Metrics You’re Using for Major Gifts Are Pushing Your Fundraisers in the Wrong Direction
There’s a reason so many major gift programs feel busy but are underperforming. It’s not a lack of effort. It’s not a lack of talent. Most of the time, it comes down to what you’re measuring.
2 min read
What Your Back Office Is Saying About Your Mission (Whether You Know it Or Not)
If a donor could sit behind the scenes at your organization for a day and watch what happens after they give, what would they experience? Would they see a team that’s coordinated, responsive, and...
