by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Nov 25, 2015 | Communication, Cultivation, Messaging | Donor Retention, Donor-Centered, Major Gifts, Uncategorized
Almost every day I kindly interrupt a conversation and ask: “what’s the problem?” The conversation could be about a drywall situation in a new house, dealing with an unruly child, a banking problem or, bringing it to our fundraising world, how to manage a major donor....
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Sep 21, 2015 | Communication, Contingency Plans, Planning | Goal-setting, Major Gifts, Strategic Plans, Uncategorized
Don’t you just love fall? Don’t get me wrong – summer is great, but that first crisp week of autumn air gets me pumped up. Having lived in Minnesota for half of my life, I just love the change in seasons. The crisp air also reminds me that we getting closer to that...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Sep 18, 2015 | Accountability, Communication, leadership | Accountability, Major Gift Officers, Management, Teamwork, Uncategorized
I will admit to you right now that I’m not a good manager. Don’t get me wrong – I love people, I love being part of a team of people – but I don’t find any great joy in managing them and helping them learn new things and be great. Does that make me a bad person? I...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Sep 16, 2015 | Communication, Passion | Fundraising, Major Gifts, Management, Moves Management, Strategic Plans, Uncategorized
Every week, Richard and I get letters from our blog readers. We love hearing what is going on with folks who work with major donors. Recently, though, we’ve been receiving quite a few emails and phone calls from folks who are AFRAID they are going to lose their job...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Aug 24, 2015 | Communication, Focus, Fundraising, managers | Major Gift Officers, Management, Moves Management, Teamwork, Uncategorized
Over the years Richard and I have been fairly critical (justifiably so) of nonprofit management, especially managers of major gift officers. It’s a tough job, and there are many MGOs out there who really desire to have a good manager that encourages them, lifts them...