Giving is Good
Great marketing combines creative, meaningful, and timely messaging with strategic implementation. It’s easy to be lulled into believing that the creative, meaningful, and timely messaging part is something that only a few people can create and that the strategic implementation must include some sort of new channel or fresh approach. All of which can be,…
Some stories we tell ourselves are about us: I’m smart (or not as much as I’d like to be); I’m athletic (or not as much as I’d like to be); I’m capable (or not as much as I’d like to be); I’m in shape (or not as much as I’d like to be). Some stories…
Maybe you think the important work is inviting the gift. Perhaps you believe the important work is relationship building. You may have been told the key to advancement work is visiting with current and prospective donors. You might even believe the most significant aspect of the work is stewardship after the gift has been received….
If we want to raise more money, we can focus on our dollar goal. Or, better yet, we can focus on our compelling vision for the future. If we want to grow our donor base, we can focus on adding another solicitation to the calendar. Or, better yet, we can invite current donors to use…
You can invite a donor to increase their giving iteratively, which means they will base the increase of their future giving on what they have given previously. Or, you can invite a donor to increase their giving aspirationally, which means they will base the increase of their future giving on what they believe to be…
We can ask Claude to quickly write the language for a pretty compelling major gift proposal. Or, we can ask Claude to take our major gift proposal and offer 3 different versions that highlight the donor’s known interests in 3 distinct ways. We can ask ChatGPT to create a projected budget for next year’s advancement…
Does it count as truly successful if the initial goal is achieved, but the stretch goal is not? If the stretch goal is met, what further motivation is there to continue to give effort? I’ve never quite understood the concept of stretch goals. From a leadership standpoint, I’ve witnessed first-hand how stretch goals create far…
We know from research completed back in the 1960s there isn’t a direct line from our bodies to our brains when it comes to feeling physical pain. When we bump our elbow on something hard, for example, we know, instinctively, that if we immediately rub our elbow with our opposite hand, it will ease the…
. . . a development program consistently expand its donor base – year over year for long stretches – without deep and relatively stable solicitation traditions and timelines. . . . a development program raise consistently more from major gifts – year over year for long stretches – without stable, engaged, and somewhat (at least)…
Not, how much do you think they will give. Not, how much capacity they have to give. Instead: if you are willing to be on the hook for the responsibility (if they say “yes”) and the disappointment (if they say, “no”), how much will you invite them to give? And yes, I agree with Seth…