3 min read
Four Meaningful Ways to Say Thanks
At Veritus, we talk a lot about transformation—transforming how you engage with your donors, how you manage your caseload, and how you show up in this work every day. But one of the simplest, most...
Passionate Giving BlogTM
Gratitude
2 min read
Why Should You Care About Your Donors?
I remember sitting at my desk 36 years ago, opening reply envelopes from a mailing I sent out weeks prior. I was right out of college, and this was my first job… working as a fundraiser for a small...
1 min read
Who Has Loved You Into Being?
Veritus Group: November 25, 2024
My wife and I went to see It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks, who plays Fred Rogers. It was a wonderful film, and I urge you to see it. There was one scene that will stick...
3 min read
It’s Not Enough to Say Thanks
You know that when a donor gives a gift, your first job is to say thank you, as quickly as possible. Amazingly, colleagues in our industry (including Richard and myself) have written, conferenced,...
2 min read
Express Gratitude to Donors Daily
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...
4 min read
No Trust, No Relationship, No Money: On Self-Trust (Part 1 of 4) - Veritus Group
Veritus Group: September 28, 2022
This is Part 1 of a series on building trust: “No Trust, No Relationship, No Money.” Trust is the core building block of all relationships. Yet many donors do not trust the organizations they give to...
1 min read
5 Self-Care Tips to Make Time for YOU During Busy Seasons
One thing is certain… the year-end push is exhausting. You’ve been busy preparing donor offers, meeting with donors, writing thank-you notes, making follow-up calls… and by this point in the year,...
1 min read
Write Your Major Gift Message with Emotion and Heart
Maybe you’ve heard that old adage: information tells, emotion sells. I suggest you print that out and put it in front of you when you’re writing, so that you make sure you start with emotion and then...
3 min read
Seven Ways MGOs Can Avoid Burnout
I talk to many major gift officers, development professionals and non-profit executives every week. Perhaps it’s the time of year, or the stage in their careers, but I’m hearing from a large portion...
4 min read
How to Turn a Donor Into a Stranger
When Jeff sent me this letter I took a little trip in my mind. I went to this lady’s home and sat beside her as she was writing. It was a very sad experience. Take a moment to read what she wrote. I...
