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Leadership is Key to Successful Fundraising

Leadership is essential for successful fundraising and must come from volunteer, executive, and advancement leaders. The impact of new board members and leadership on a stakeholder organization (SHOrg) can be immediate and significant. That’s why your governance committee must take great care with your organization's leadership continuity planning. When considering new leadership, there are many important variables to consider and ...

Introducing Abacus Major Donor Ask Calculator

With Abacus™ Major Donor Ask Calculator you no longer need to shoot from the hip when deciding how much to ask a donor for a major gift. Abacus picks up where donor philanthropic capacity ratings and other donor research leave off. It uses objective data about the donor and their relationship to your organization to arrive at an aspirational, yet respectful, 3-year ...

Donor Research and Gift Discussions

You have built a trusting relationship with the donor, who knows about your organization and opportunities and needs that can be addressed through philanthropy. Research has been conducted using a wealth assessment service, google searches down rabbit holes, and discussions with people who know the donor (street research). And you have asked the donor to meet with you and a trusted ...

Education About Mission, Programs, and Initiatives

Research has shown that the more a donor is knowledgeable about a stakeholder organization’s mission and programs, the more they give (Bank of America Private Bank Study of Wealthy Americans). Now that you have a donor pipeline and have assigned the most accessible donors to various portfolios, and discovery visits have been made, it is time to create individualized engagement ...

Donor Discovery Visits That Jumpstart Gift Conversations

That first meeting with a donor sets your course and speed for relationship building and getting to a gift conversation. The right questions must be asked to glean key information that will inform your next moves and help you build rapport with the donor. The information will also help inform the gift you will eventually ask of your donor, using ...

Donor Pipeline and Portfolios

It would be great if you had the staff and budget to engage and cultivate all of your donors. While you put your resources into growing your donor base, retaining donors, and elevating their giving, you must also pay special attention to your most valuable donors and stakeholders. Donor Pipeline First, identify which donors should receive your lavish attention. Build ...