3 min read
You finally get the gift. The relationship has been building for months, maybe years. The conversation was right. The timing worked. The donor said yes. Hooray! That moment can feel like the finish...
3 min read
Your organization probably has a CRM. You log gifts in it, pull reports from it, and store donor contact information in it. That’s all good! But if you’re honest, you might still feel like something...
3 min read
If I had to guess, you probably didn’t become a major gift officer because you love spreadsheets, dashboards, and CRM data entry. You got into this work because you care about the mission. You wanted...
3 min read
Here’s a hard but useful question to ask yourself: if you had to hand one of your donor portfolios to a new Major Gift Officer tomorrow, could they step in and keep those relationships moving without...
3 min read
If you work in major gifts long enough, you can start to feel like your entire job is a spreadsheet. You know the buzzwords: Dollars raised. Visits logged. Performance comparisons. Attribution...
2 min read
I don’t have to tell you that crises change donor behavior. You saw it during the COVID-19 pandemic, and you see it anytime there’s a natural disaster, an economic shock, or a humanitarian emergency.
2 min read
What does a frontline fundraiser need to be successful—beyond qualified donors and a compelling offer that aligns with donor passions and interests? I’ve asked that question of managers and...
2 min read
I’ve been thinking a lot about equity in fundraising. Maybe that sounds like a buzzword these days, but it’s a real, structural issue that directly affects whether organizations actually grow. When...
3 min read
Let’s start with a reality every major gift officer eventually runs into: donors leave your caseload. Some pass away. Some change priorities. Some hit a business downturn. At the same time, new...
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3 min read
For decades, fundraising events have been the default answer for many non-profits. Galas, dinners, tastings, lectures, golf outings—every year, organizations pour enormous amounts of staff time,...
3 min read
The look on their face said it all. “You want me to create a strategy for every single donor on my caseload? Are you kidding me?” I’ve seen that look hundreds of times. It’s usually followed by some...
4 min read
If you asked me for the short answer to what fundraisers should focus on this year, I’d say this: have a plan. That’s not easy, but it is simple. And it’s the foundation for everything else I’m going...
