by admin | Nov 17, 2017 | Uncategorized
I often ask organizations whether they have a stewardship process or a donation receipt procedure. There’s a big difference. Of course we must acknowledge the contributions of our supporters. We must send a gift receipt. We must say thank you. If you...
by admin | Nov 3, 2014 | Podcast, Preperation, The Basics
When I was starting out in my career as a fundraiser I attended a seminar with Jerry Panas. Jerry is an inspiration, and inspiring people are often associated with “big picture” ideas. At that seminar, though, Jerry shared something so incredibly basic and...
by admin | Feb 27, 2014 | Podcast, The Basics
What makes a great fundraiser? As a consultant with more than a decade of professional experience, more than a thousand donor meetings, and millions of dollars raised, I am often asked by non profit executives and board members, “what makes a great...
by admin | Feb 6, 2014 | Podcast, Stuff Development Officers deal with, The Basics
You know how some days your’re good and some days you’re great? You’re asking the right questions and dealing with objections and it’s like you’re in harmony with the universe. I was on a trip recently with a client and I had the exact...
by admin | Jan 30, 2014 | Podcast, Stuff Development Officers deal with, The Basics, Uncategorized
I was recently participating in a panel discussion before an audience of fundraising professionals. Most of the people in this room had less than 3 years of experience as professional fundraisers and some had only a few months. One of the participants asked me how...
by admin | Jan 28, 2012 | Podcast, The Basics, Uncategorized
I was consulting with an organization recently that asked me to address how to respond to donors when asksed “so what do you do exactly?” You’re a professional fundraiser. Maybe your job title is development officer or director of the annual fund or...
by admin | Oct 31, 2011 | Podcast, The Basics, Uncategorized
It’s November 1st. We’re down to the final two months of the year. What other gifts are on the table you can close before the end of the year? Actually you have less than 2 months. You’re probably not going to have many donor visits Thanksgiving...
by admin | Oct 20, 2011 | Podcast, The Basics, Uncategorized
The end of the year is coming. Maybe you’re looking over your list of donors at what they’ve done in year’s past that last week of December. Are you counting on those gifts this year? You shouldn’t. There’s a phrase I use all the time. I...
by admin | Oct 13, 2011 | Listening, Podcast, Preperation, Uncategorized
I shared recently about how I was on a donor call with a development officer who is new to the industry. Before the meeting I was talking about the importance of asking good questions. It’s not enough just to listen. You have to ask great questions that elicit...
by admin | Oct 6, 2011 | Listening, Podcast, Uncategorized
As a major gifts consultant I’m talking all the time about listening. Ask any of my clients. But what are you listening to? It all starts with asking good questions. Today I was on a donor call with a development officer who is new to this industry. We’re...
