
Be In the Moment…to Get Hired
Professional success. For many fundraising executives, that means a constant inching upward on the career ladder. Clearly, ambition, drive, and motivation are critical factors in moving the needle for ourselves as well as our organizations. And, as executive recruiters, we are always on the lookout for advancement candidates willing and able to lead with energy, skill and - in ...

Ask – Don’t Assume – About Your Donors
You may be familiar with the old adage about the word “assume”… that it makes a “donkey’s rear end” of “u” and “me.” And this is especially true when it comes to major gift fundraising. The first lessons of Philanthropy 101 include knowing your donors and their philanthropic aspirations. It takes significant time, effort, and research to gain this understanding ...

The REAL Value of Direct Mail
The traditional (and frankly easiest) way to evaluate a direct mail program is to determine net revenue and the number of donors you keep, gain, and lose. A mature and well managed program will invest in acquisition, end the year with more donors and, if you are really good, achieve an overall higher average gift to boot. Results are evaluated ...

Creating Financial Rapport with Your Donors
Rapport. That wonderful – and productive – state between two or more people when everything just seems to align. The right words, and empowering body language, bring the conversation and its results to unexpectedly high levels. Some gift officers are able to naturally bring rapport to their relationships with their donors and prospects. This in turn lays the foundation ...

Congratulations to Kristina DeMain – Winner of the PLAN-Master Gift Officer Fellowship
Master Gift Officer. Just the words alone conjure up confidence, optimism, energy, and success. And the phrase embodies what we all strive for: demonstrating the highest level of ability, talent, and dedication within the development profession. Today, the job title isn’t on the tip of the tongue of most nonprofit fundraising professionals or organizations, and hasn’t been spotted on a ...

DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER
Did you know that the word “news” actually comes from the terms north, east, west, and south? … meaning that information - positive and negative - truly does come from all over. And, in a way, advancement officers, CFOs, and consultants in the development world are newscasters, constantly delivering updates on the state of affairs in their organizations. A ...