2 min read
Why Do You Need Touch Points?
If you’ve been reading the Veritus blog for a while, you likely know that we talk about creating a strategic communication plan for your relationally managed donors. Our standard is a Touch Point for...
2 min read
One Question to Unlock a Donor Conversation
A while back, I was scrolling through Apple News on my phone, and a headline from People Magazine caught my eye: “Carl Reiner's One Simple Question to 'Dick Van Dyke Show' Writers Changed the Way...
2 min read
Talking to Strangers (Or Donors You Don’t Know Yet)
Do you find that first conversation with a donor you haven’t met to be a bit, well, scary? I don’t mean shaking in your boots terrified. But enough that you have to inhale-exhale before you start...
2 min read
Don’t Ask Your Donors ‘How Are You?’
How many times has someone asked “How are you?” in greeting? How often was there any real interest in your answer? Now, I realize that there may be some caveats to that, especially for southerners...
3 min read
Are You Still Talking When Your Donor is Done Listening?
Talking is a big part of what a relationship fundraiser does. I wrote about that recently in a blog that focused on ensuring your “conversations” are not effectively serial monologues. I’m going to...
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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...
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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...
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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
Donor Advised Funds Series, Part 3: The Role of a Philanthropic Advisor
There is a growing industry in the philanthropic world. And I don’t mean Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)—although they are growing exponentially in number and value. According to the most recent Annual...
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Donor Advised Funds Series, Part 2: Breaking Up is Hard to Do...Or Is It?
I wish it were true that breaking up is hard to do. But it’s not. It can be as easy as not reporting back on the impact of a 2025 gift to a donor who has supported an organization for 10 years!
3 min read
Donor Advised Funds Series, Part 1: Your Donors Stopped Giving. True or False?
It’s January, and 2025 giving is still being processed. This means you’re not 100% sure which donors did NOT give last year. It’s a common problem. And it’s a real problem. But if you’re managing a...
3 min read
How a Public Media Organization Built a Mid-Level Program with The Veritus Way
There’s a moment in every fundraising shop when you can feel a shift. Conversations deepen. Meetings become easier to secure. Donors begin volunteering information that helps you serve them better....
