by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Feb 11, 2019 | Asks | Donor Offers, Impact, Overhead
Imagine going into a store to buy a pair of shoes. This is the dialogue between you and the customer service person (CSP) helping you, after he’s brought you the shoes you requested. CSP: Would you like to try them on? You: In a second; I have some questions. CSP:...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Feb 8, 2019 | Need, Offers | Asking, Donor Offers, Impact
One of the most frustrating behaviors I’ve encountered in my career in fundraising is people (of every type) covering up the need that their non-profit exists to address. They try to pretty-up the need, to make it “acceptable” to the donor – as if that were an...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Jan 28, 2019 | leadership, YMAD | Impact, Mission, Reporting Back
By now you’ve closed the books on last year. You’ve properly thanked all the donors in your portfolio for their great gifts, and now your attention in the next couple of months will be on how well you report on the impact of those gifts. Unfortunately, this is where...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Aug 17, 2018 | emotion, Moves Management, Writing | Communication, Impact, Storytelling
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 sprinkle your writing with information, and NOT start with...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Jul 2, 2018 | Programs | Asking, Impact, Storytelling
“Did you take her right into the need? Right where the person lives – the person you are trying to help?” we asked the MGO. He couldn’t break through to show the donor how truly transformational her gift could be. “No, she won’t go. She doesn’t seem interested in...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Nov 28, 2022 | Donor Communication, Donor Relations, Reporting, Reporting Back, YMAD | Impact, Moves Management, Reporting Back
One tiny report makes a tremendous amount of difference, because it closes the giving loop. Just last week I heard about some MGOs who closed the reporting-back loop successfully, but another didn’t. The contrast is stunning. Those that closed the loop told their...