You can stand out from the crowd by doing simple things exceptionally well

Well, what's doing simple things well got to do with charitable gift planning? Everything. Like it or not, the competition for donor dollars is intense -- and it's only getting more intense. In the 21st century, the competition will accelerate...

Here’s a solicitor’s check-list for success

No visitor seriously bent on a successful prospect call ever goes unprepared. Here is our Solicitor's Check-list for Success, a few of the most crucial dos and don'ts to bear in mind as you knock on that next door, behind...

Burk: Avoid anything that separates you from your donor!

Recognition events are repetitive, boring and simply too long. In fact, being kept personally informed of what the gifts were achieving is the most important and valued form of donor recognition. That's what feedback from a donor recognition survey of...

Renewing the relationship

This article was originally published in Canadian FundRaiser Any relationship -- marketer-customer, master-servant, husband-wife -- needs to be renewed from time to time. Fundraisers must keep in mind that there's no such thing as a permanent commitment anymore. People tend...

The seven deadly sins of gift planning

Gift planners have long recognized two closely-related factors as key obstacles to be overcome in broadening the donor base: despite the phenomenal growth in personal wealth over the past two decades, very few people preceive themselves as potential philanthropists and,...

Treat your raffle-ticket buyers like donors

Traditionally, organizations running ticket raffles and home lotteries have not developed relationships with their buyers. Of course they create mailing lists, and send brochures to them, but few track information about individual buyers. The reason is fairly simple: in the...

Time-consuming, but powerful when done well, seminars can make the difference

Seminars are powerful tools in generating interest in planned giving. They are a nonthreatening approach to the donor, and are generally viewed by the public as popular and safe events to attend. An opportunity to provide a free or modestly-priced...

Ten myths of telemarketing

A growing number of Canadian charities use telemarketing as part of their fundraising programs. In the United States, over half of the nonprofits now use the phone to raise funds. The reason they use telemarketing is simple: it works. In...

United Way Adopts Donors’ Rights Statement

This article appeared previously in Canadian FundRaiser At its recent national conference, United Way of Canada/Centraide Canada endorsed a Statement of Principles of Donors' Rights for use by all of its members. While the growing focus on accountability in the...

Strong publicity is a hallmark of a successful sponsorship. Get your media sponsors on board first

This article appeared previously in Canadian FundRaiser What's every charitable event organizer's worst nightmare? Nobody buys tickets; nobody shows up. The same nightmare haunts sponsoring companies. Never forget that sponsors want strong, positive publicity for the dollars they have invested....