Planning & Strategy Archives

Fundraising Friction – Ways to Reduce the Heat

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Planning & Strategy Posted January 21, 2019 0 Comments

Fundraising friction are all those ways that advancement offices, websites, development officers and campaign design make it harder for donors to make a contribution. Friction points are often overlooked and not seen for what they are.

Potential Effects of Trump Policies on Fundraising and Nonprofits

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Leadership & Management, Planning & Strategy Posted June 29, 2018 0 Comments

In addition to my post addressing how the new tax law is likely to affect fundraising, in this article I take a high level look at potential effects of some Trump administration policies on fundraising and stakeholder nonprofit organizations. The playing field has changed significantly with the new administration and Republican controlled Congress. This post is rated “M” for mature audiences.

What Fundraisers Need to Know About the New Tax Law…All in One Place

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Planning & Strategy Posted May 17, 2018 3 Comments

Allow me to take a run at providing, what I think are the most relevant aspects of the new tax law for advancement officers, that you may find useful for strategy and to help donors understand the implications for their philanthropy planning.

Are You Giving In to #GivingTuesday?

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Insights, Planning & Strategy Posted January 13, 2018 0 Comments

#GivingTuesday now has six years under its belt. It seems prudent to review its growth and significance, and to see whether it elevates overall giving or just redistributes anticipated giving. #GivingTuesday is a novel campaign founded by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation to remind the nation that the holiday season is about […]

Beware of the Feeble Feasibility Study

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Core Service, Planning & Strategy Posted December 11, 2016 3 Comments

Not all feasibility studies are created equal. Over the years I have reviewed feasibility studies done by other consultants so I could prepare a proposal or assume the role of counsel for a prescribed campaign goal. Too often, the studies did not address the issues that are key to campaign success, or were unable to […]

Headwinds for Public Charities

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Insights, Planning & Strategy Posted June 12, 2016 0 Comments

Is the job market for advancement professionals contracting? And if so, why? It would appear from most of the available data, the number of 501(c)3 “public charities”* in the US is indeed declining. (*StakeholderCorporations) According to the Independent Sector and Urban Institute’s research: More than 275,000 public charities lost their tax-exempt status in 2011 because of […]

Boots on the Ground

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Major Gifts, Planning & Strategy, Training Posted March 21, 2016 0 Comments

Having “boots on the ground” has become a metaphor of late for – if you need to do the hard work, you need be all in. The military reference is obvious, as is the commonly used term “campaign”. Merriam-Webster’s first definition of campaign is: a connected series of military operations forming a distinct phase […]

ROI Redux…Return On Involvement

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Major Gifts, Planning & Strategy, Training Posted February 15, 2016 0 Comments

Return on Investment is one of those gross measures many boards and CEOs focus on as an overall measure of effectiveness. Generally speaking it is a useful tool except if you are in a growth mode. While the ROI might suffer, your top line revenue should grow significantly rendering your added expenses justifiable. My […]

Turning Gratitude Into Gifts

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Major Gifts, Planning & Strategy, Training Posted January 11, 2016 1 Comment

Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts. Henri Frederic Amiel Those acts can be volunteering for a nonprofit organization, helping a friend or a stranger, or making a financial contribution. Giving is an act born from emotion. You […]

Fundraising Forecasts for 2016…a head scratcher

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Emerging Ideas, Insights, Planning & Strategy Posted December 5, 2015 0 Comments

This is the time of year when I take stock to reflect and project about new advancement trends and developments, and what seems to be gaining steam to make a splash in the coming year. 2015 was a quiet year for innovation and 2016 looks no different. The past five years or so brought […]

Fundraisers Want Tools Too

By Larry Raff In _CRI Blog Post, Major Gifts, Planning & Strategy, Training Posted November 13, 2015 0 Comments

Call me nuts (upon fear of bodily harm), but as I conduct more and more trainings and consult with more and more advancement shops, the clamor for effective and simple tools is becoming overwhelmingly apparent. There are plenty of ever emerging social media channels to distract us, but few useful tools to help get […]

What Makes Someone Care?

By Larry Raff In Insights, Planning & Strategy Posted August 11, 2015 0 Comments

This is a question explored in a recent NY Times article (“Empathy is Actually a Choice”, July 10, 2015) that examines a body of research that can inform advancement professionals in important ways. The research explores empathy and how it is applied and how it is influenced. For instance, research indicates that people are […]

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