KNOWLEDGE

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.

Pay attention to your $1,000 donors. In due time they can become your $1 million dollars.

You never know in fundraising if you are going to be planting seeds or harvesting the crop.

Consider starting the relationship with your prospective donor with a tour of your facility and program to create an immediate connection to your organization’s impact and people.

It’s not entirely possible to eliminate the preemptive gift or “go away” gift but the savvy fundraiser can often turn that first gift into a down payment on a much larger commitment later.

Successful development professionals tie donors to the mission of the organization.

The CEO of a nonprofit organization is expected by savvy donors to also be the CDO (Chief Development Officer).

A strong annual donor is like a golden goose. They are an annuity that keeps paying. Amazing to me how easily organizations neglect these donors and elevate the risk of losing their cumulative impact to the organization forever.

In describing Moves Management, David Dunlap explains that the system is about “changing people’s attitudes so they want to give.”

You know the timing is right to ask for the big gift when doing so won’t change your relationship with the prospective donor, even if they can’t give at the level requested.

It’s commonly understood and repeated that you should thank a donor seven times before making the next ask.

Board member expectations should be documented and clearly articulated to all Board members. Through the Board recruitment process, the expectations of Board members should be carefully reviewed and discussed. During orientation and onboarding, expectations should be reiterated and reinforced. Annually, expectations should be evaluated and measured against the Board members actual performance. Let there be no doubt about the expectations of the organization when it comes to Board member performance. #fundraising #fivetoolfundraiser #philanthropy #fundraiser #nonprofit #5toolfundraiser #AFP #CASE

“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

“No one has ever become poor by giving” – Anne Frank

“To pour forth benefits for the common good is divine.” – Benjamin Franklin

The fundraising production of the Board of Directors is incredibly important to the ultimate success of an organization’s efforts. Along with the expectation that every Board member contributes financially, there is also value in the expectation that Board members will generate a certain amount of additional contributed revenue as well. Measuring this production and other activity like new contacts created in the aggregate and on a per member basis will assure the Board is making a meaningful impact toward advancing the mission of the organization.