Giving is Good
Conventional wisdom is that we must evoke a sense of care, empathy, or concern in order to persuade people to give. So, we spend a lot of time and energy coming up with compelling stories. Clearly, many people will give once their “heart-strings are pulled.” But, the reverse process is also true. When people give…
When we propose a new stewardship event after careful research and thought. . . When we create a new plan for the annual giving calendar. . . When we initiate a discussion about how major gift portfolios can be re-organized. . . When we recommend a new design template and theme for our e-newsletter. ….
We talk a lot about philanthropy being an “art and a science.” In fact, we also talk about it in that order: Our work is “an art and a science.” We never say our work is “a science and an art.” And, yet, my sense is that most folks spend the bulk of their energy…
Two kinds of luxury worth considering: First, is the kind of luxury offered to us by marketers. This luxury is perceived as exclusive, upscale, and usually expensive. It’s also mostly for our benefit or pleasure. Any item or experience can be luxurious – from towels, to automobiles, to hotels and vacations. We can call this,…
When The Seven Faces of Philanthropy was first published in the 1990s, it was an instant classic. It helped a generation of gift officers understand the motivations and perspectives of seven different types or “faces” of donors. For many new gift officers, it is still a must read. I have often wondered though, what a…
You can inspire donors in a group setting. You can educate donors in a group setting. You can engage donors in a group setting. You can relationship-build with donors in a group setting. You can share your strategic plans and funding priorities with donors in a group setting. You can receive feedback from donors in…
When we appreciate that someone let us merge in front of them while driving, we are thankful. When we acknowledge our privileges (we all have them, even if we can’t easily see them), we are grateful. When we feel relief because a meeting ended early, we are thankful. When we reflect on the positive impact…
Without a keen grasp of the applicable rules, it’s hard to be good at any game or activity. Imagine, for instance, that you and your friends decided to play a card game. You all gathered around a table and one friend dealt each person 7 cards, placed the remaining cards in a deck at the…
During visits with donors, if you find yourself regularly sharing a personal experience or anecdote because the donor brought up a similar topic, you might be story-swapping. Story-swapping during conversations is a natural way for humans to build rapport and isn’t necessarily a poor practice for a gift officer to use. But, it also may…
After decades of donor interactions and thousands of donor interviews, here is a list of what I’ve heard from major gift donors about what they want but don’t always get: Follow-up and follow-through; Recognition – even, if only privately; Timely responses; Mission-centered impact reporting – doesn’t have to be specific (i.e., “your gift provided the…