Making big gifts is most often a function of age. The older you are, the more capable you tend to be of making a major gift. It’s perhaps one of the few areas where it’s more beneficial to be older rather than younger.

Birds of a feather flock together. Your best board members should be tasked with helping you identify and recruit future potential board members.

If you expect your volunteers to get on board with some significant initiative, like a campaign or strategic plan, time, attention, and focus must be provided. A retreat is often necessary and effective in getting your group to build consensus and a path forward.

Regrettably, there is all sorts of flimflammery in the philanthropic space. You find bad actors wherever you find money. We all have our stories. Be alert and keep your guard up. If something is too good to be true, it probably is.

Being a five tool fundraiser often requires that you ride shotgun in a solicitation with a volunteer or staff leader. In this situation, you might find yourself asking if your partner fails to do it. Great fundraisers provide a safety net in the solicitation, often rescuing their partner, the meeting outcomes, and the ask.

Audiences take note when your brand communicates your mission in a strong and clear way.

Involvement leads to investment

The five tool fundraiser is not afraid of hard work or putting in the required hours. Work-life balance can be achieved but the best of the best fundraisers will tell you that they are most often the first in the office and the last out of the office.

Philanthropy is like voting. The impact is always greater the more people participate.

Don’t preemptively make the decision for your prospective donor. Just ask. Let the prospective donor make up their own mind.

A good fundraiser is not a reluctant fundraiser. The best fundraisers don’t think of all the reasons not to ask. The best fundraisers are tenacious, have fire in the belly, are overly optimistic, and get after it.

Money + Mission = Progress

Don’t assume you know who makes the decisions around philanthropy in the family. It’s always best to be inclusive when making the ask unless specifically directed otherwise.

Fundraising is often an “if – then” proposition. If the organization is able to accomplish certain tasks or requirements, then achieving a fundraising goal will be feasible.

The skills and capabilities of fundraisers are quick to atrophy when not being actively used.

The richest person in the world is the one that has the biggest heart for others.