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...
3 min read
If you’re working a mid-level, major gifts, or planned giving caseload, the way you communicate with donors matters just as much as how often you do it. Touch points are not busywork. They are one of...
3 min read
On our recent trends webinar, I began by acknowledging the weight many of us are carrying right now. There’s a lot happening in the world—economic uncertainty, policy changes, funding cuts, and the...
3 min read
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...
2 min read
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
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...
2 min read
Don’t let another minute of this new year slip by without taking care of a few critical things in your major gifts caseload management. This is the work that sets the tone for the entire year, and...
3 min read
It’s Halloween week, and while most people are trading ghost stories or debating the best candy, I thought we’d share a few fundraising horror stories. Now, before you cover your eyes, I’ll say this:...
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3 min read
When I’m working with clients, I will often compare major gifts fundraising to dating. In dating, you’re working to get to know them and identify how your lives might work together. Major gifts...
2 min read
One thing that’s difficult for me to do is to focus on the positive things people do. Jeff and my wife both tell me regularly that I am too problem-oriented. There is good and bad news to this...
