The bad news for nonprofits? It looks like we’re in it for the long haul with social distancing restrictions. The good news? Major gift solicitations on a virtual platform seem to be working. But as with all solicitations, there is a right and a wrong way to go about it. And without the personal foundation of a face-to-face connection, fundraisers…
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Giving USA 2019: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018 Americans gave $427.71 billion to charity in 2018 during a complicated year for charitable giving Shaped by a mixture of counteracting economic and policy factors, total contributions grew 0.7% in current dollars, declined 1.7% adjusted for inflation Editor's Note: If you live in the Greater Kansas City area,…
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Beth Silverstein Senior Consultant When donor passion intersects with institutional aspiration, magic happens. But the real magic is what it takes to get to the pinnacle of relationship where donor and cause are seamlessly, intensely aligned. It is a well-known trend that donors are beginning to focus their giving, narrowing the number of organizations they support. They are also looking…
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Jennifer Studebaker Coordinator of Administration + Consulting “We do not engage in fundraising. We’re a membership-based organization.” This is the response I have received when engaging with associations and other nonprofits that operate on a membership model. While I understand developing a giving program sounds like a lot of work, you do not need a sophisticated development department to make…
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Heather Ehlert Chief Operating Officer Whether you call it a “Feasibility Study,” “Campaign Planning Study,” “Campaign Readiness Assessment” or “Oh-My-Gosh-We’re-Actually-Thinking-About-a-CAMPAIGN!” a planning study is critical to laying a solid foundation for a large-scale fundraising effort. Not only does it help prepare your organization internally, but a (good) planning study also externally tests your project plans and campaign concept. But couldn’t/shouldn’t…
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Katie Lord Vice President Over the past several months there has been a lot of negative media attention cast upon the nonprofit sector relating to Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs). But before I dive deeper into my thoughts about the matter, let’s start with the basics. I have to say you may have your head buried in the sand if you haven’t…
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Jennifer Studebaker Coordinator of Administration + Consulting And oh boy, was it a good one! Erik Daubert, MBA, ACFRE and Chair of the Growth in Giving Initiative and the Fundraising Effectiveness Project came to Kansas City for Nonprofit Connect’s 501(c) Success National Speaker Series on September 11. Erik dived right in with the history, purpose, and goals of the Fundraising Fitness…
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John Marshall Senior Vice President We have all heard about donors making million-dollar-plus gifts and the impact such generosity had on the recipient charity. Americans are clearly the most generous people on the face of the earth with million dollar gifts occurring annually in the thousands. Like most fundraisers, I think about what truly motivates a person to give that…
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Eric Tschanz Senior Consultant When I arrived at Powell Gardens, I told the Board I could build their garden, but I was NOT a fundraiser. As President and Executive Director, I soon realized the need for outside funding if the Gardens were going to grow and prosper. Membership programs were started, earned income streams were developed, capital campaigns were initiated…
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Jeffrey D. Byrne, President + CEO We know to do our homework on prospective donors. You’ve heard me say time and again “Don’t commit fundraising malpractice!” (See my blog piece on the benefits of prospect research here.)That means do your research – because it reveals information about the wealth and capacity of prospects as well as information about philanthropic giving…
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