by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Sep 6, 2011 | Development Directors, Director of Major Gifts, Donors, Fundraising, Giving, Joy, Non-Profits, Passion, Philanthropy, Stewardship | Development Directors, Donor-Centered, Major Gift Officers, Major Gifts, Mission, Non-Profits, Philanthropy, Uncategorized
A wealthy industrialist once asked Gandhi, “Do you need me or my money?” Gandhi replied: “I need only you!” Gandhi wasn’t against wealth or money. He just knew that humans could not find purpose and fulfillment in it. Some of the great philosophers and religious...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Sep 2, 2011 | Creativity, Development Directors, Director of Major Gifts, Fundraising, Giving, Non-Profits, Passion, Philanthropy, Stewardship | Development Directors, Donor-Centered, Major Gift Officers, Major Gifts, Mission, Non-Profits, Philanthropy, Uncategorized
It’s September. Summer is mostly behind us. In a phrase, this is now “the season to get going!” I ask you. What are you going to do with this time? Traditionally, we’re headed into the best giving time of the year. For you, this is make it or break it time for...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Aug 24, 2011 | Development Directors, Director of Major Gifts, Donors, Fundraising, Giving, Joy, Passion, Philanthropy, Stewardship | Development Directors, Donor-Centered, Major Gift Officers, Major Gifts, Mission, Non-Profits, Philanthropy, Uncategorized
Do you have joy in your giving? ‘Why are you asking me that question, Jeff? I’m about getting my donors to find joy in their giving…It’s not about me.” Well, I don’t think that’s true. We talk a good game (myself included) about wanting our donors to find real joy...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Aug 22, 2011 | Development Directors, Donors, Fundraising, Giving, Joy, Non-Profits, Passion, Philanthropy, Results, Stewardship | Development Directors, Donor-Centered, Major Gift Officers, Major Gifts, Mission, Non-Profits, Philanthropy, Uncategorized
23 years ago, I started my first job in fundraising. I worked for a small non-profit in Philadelphia on the 3rd floor of a dilapidated building. We were so small, not only did I write the appeal letters, I also folded them, put them in envelopes, licked the stamps...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Aug 3, 2011 | Development Directors, Director of Major Gifts, Fundraising, Fundraising ratios, Giving, Impact, Joy, Non-Profits, Philanthropy, Results | Development Directors, Donor-Centered, Impact, Major Gift Officers, Major Gifts, Mission, Non-Profits, Philanthropy, Uncategorized
I was surprised after my last post that I didn’t have any challenges as to why ratios within reason are a good thing. So, I’ll just be my own devil’s advocate. Of course, ratios that are reasonable make sense. I’m not advocating that we just go out and spend blindly...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Aug 1, 2011 | Development Directors, Director of Major Gifts, Donors, Fundraising, Fundraising ratios, Giving, Impact, Non-Profits, Overhead, Philanthropy | Development Directors, Donor-Centered, Impact, Major Gift Officers, Major Gifts, Mission, Non-Profits, Philanthropy, Uncategorized
Picture this. You’re sitting around with your colleagues in the conference room and the “boss” tells everyone that they have to figure out what percentage of the newsletter or the latest appeal can be “counted” as education because your fundraising ratios are too...
