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,...
Passionate Giving BlogTM
Relationships (2)
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...
2 min read
You’re Using Campaigns as a Crutch!
If your non-profit has done more than two capital campaigns in its history, it’s most likely because you don’t have a strong major gift program and/or you’re using it as a crutch not to develop...
4 min read
Changing Your Major Gifts Program from Transactional to Relational
I was told about this experiment back in 1986, and it has stuck with me all these years. A teacher was given false information about the IQ and abilities of her classroom students. This changed her...
3 min read
What Does The New Phone Etiquette Mean for Your Donor Calls?
I recently re-read an article in the Washington Post on the new phone etiquette. Their hot take? “Text first and never leave a voice mail.” And while I get the sentiment behind that, it’s not...
2 min read
Major Gifts is a Long Game: Chasing a Quick Win Will Lead to a Loss
A while back, one of our Client Experience Leaders (CEL) at Veritus was talking to a major gift officer she was coaching. The MGO felt adamant about asking a certain donor for a $100,000 gift. But...
3 min read
Just Own It!
You just had a meeting or phone call with a donor, and it went well. Until you said something that you think landed wrong. The donor didn’t say anything, but the “air” felt different.
2 min read
I Doubled My Support and I Liked It
OK, not as catchy as Katy Perry’s 2008 debut single, but hopefully it got your attention!
3 min read
Do You Have What It Takes to Get a Transformational Gift?
Right now, in this moment, you have donors in your caseload who could give transformational gifts. But they’re not giving those gifts right now because no one has taken the time to see them, dream...
