Giving is Good
Canada’s Athabasca University is a world leader in providing on-line education. Because they are a comprehensive university specializing in distance learning, technology plays a large role in their teaching, research, and day-to-day operations. Most everyone associated with AU is comfortable with a range of technologies and computer applications. It’s a neat place. Advanced technology oozes from…
What is the truth at your institution? Is it what you believe about your institution and its work? Or is it what your donors and constituents believe about your institution? If you are like many advancement pros, you spend a good amount of time and energy strategizing on how best to tell your institution’s story….
The end of the calendar year is approaching. The season of giving is almost here. You are preparing year-end appeals. You are making visits with donors who typically give during this time of year. You are preparing a number of follow-up strategies to finish the calendar year strong. You will ask lybunts to continue their…
If your aim is to “get yourself organized” before you call on donors, don’t. If you believe you need a case statement or more materials before you can set up a prospective donor visit, you’re wrong. If you are spending hours running or reading reports on the donors in your portfolio, you are wasting time….
The sense among many development officers is that the primary purpose of calling a new major gift prospect is to get a visit. The initial research on the prospect’s capacity has been completed and the next logical step, the conventional wisdom says, is to get the visit. But in this day of doing more with…
With all the ego, all the cross-talking, and aggressive posturing during the debates, you may find it surprising that both our presidential candidates agree on at least one thing – capping the charitable gift deduction is a good idea. As one might guess, non-profit groups – armed with studies that highlight how injurious such legislation would…
Most advancement leaders talk a good game. Most can tell you that the primary driver behind giving is the donor’s interest in the institution’s mission and vision. They can tell you that building meaningful relationships with donors whose values and interests align with the mission and vision of the institution is the most effective way…
At the very least, most advancement leaders give lip service to the notion that donor stewardship is important. Thanking donors and recognizing them as appropriate are the baseline activities of solid advancement programs. Expressing gratitude to our donors is the right thing to do ethically and tactically. As the old saying goes, “Stewardship of the…
A vice president for advancement and a president recently were on a solicitation visit with a donor. The president is new to his position (less than a year) and the donor is a long-time supporter of this institution and is a major philanthropist in the region. The vp and president were there to ask for…
Here’s a simple “what’s really important” check for you today: Do you believe that giving is an important component of a healthy life? Do you believe that giving stimulates our brains in much the same ways that food and sex do? Do you believe that giving reduces chronic pain? Do you believe that giving lowers…