Donor Advised Funds – the Magic Bullet of Fundraising

Donor Advised Funds – the Magic Bullet of Fundraising By Chris Cloud Donor advised funds (DAF’s) are the secret weapon of many fundraisers. It represents money that is already donated so the decision hurdle for making a gift has already been cleared by the donor. DAF’s are therefore the easiest, most readily giftable major gift out there for most charities. Donor-advised funds are philanthropic vehicles that allow individuals, families, or organizations to make charitable contributions to a fund, receive an immediate tax deduction, and...

The Post-Covid Face of Fundraising Feasibility and Planning Studies

The Post-Covid Face of Fundraising Feasibility and Planning Studies By Dave Gallagher COVID-19 changed many things, including the ground rules for feasibility and planning studies for fundraising campaigns. Based on what we see in the years since pandemic restrictions subsided, we think it’s time to rethink these studies, the cost, the effectiveness, and the overall approach. Conducting a feasibility and planning study is professional groundwork in advance of a fundraising campaign. The study tells you if your goal is realistic if you are...

How to Use your Major Gifts Team to Professionally Staff Board Development

How to Use your Major Gifts Team to Professionally Staff Board Development By Chris Cloud I did a podcast about how to professionalize your board development function at your nonprofit organization. We talked about using your major gifts professionals to drive this process, and I have clients who are adopting this method now. This is different than hiring a broker on a fee basis to source board members. The idea is to activate major gifts professionals to drive action. They have complementary interests. They are pros. They...

Crossing the Finish Line: How One School Created a Campaign within a Campaign to Raise the Final Million

Crossing the Finish Line: How One School Created a Campaign within a Campaign to Raise the Final Million By Jay Angeletti Following the excitement of the initial lead gifts, a campaign launch, and early success, it’s easy to reach a plateau or even stall in the later years of a major fundraising campaign. That’s when it's most important to identify creative strategies to engage new prospects, close gifts, and cross the finish line of the campaign. During their largest fundraising campaign, one school...

Does Your Nonprofit Organization Really Have a Gift Planning Program?

Does Your Nonprofit Organization Really Have a Gift Planning Program? Savvy fundraisers and nonprofit board members are re-focusing on the massive revenue potential of gift planning (deferred gifts in wills, gifts made through trusts, retirement accounts, etc.). Many people in these circles have heard about the groundbreaking study entitled, “Millionaires and the Millennium: New Estimates of the Forthcoming Wealth Transfer and the Prospects for a Golden Age of Philanthropy.” The study predicted that between 1998 and 2052 a minimum of $41 trillion...

Concierge Stewardship

Concierge Stewardship By Brian M. Sagrestano, J.D., CFRE, and Robert E. Wahlers, MS., CFRE The concierge at your favorite hotel can make your stay a memorable one, securing dinner reservations, obtaining tickets to a sporting event or show, booking a sightseeing excursion—all the special touches that keep you coming back. If you enjoy life’s finer things, the crossed Golden Keys (Les Clefs d’Or) awarded to top experienced and recommended concierges are a familiar and welcome sight. Philanthropists who make transformational gifts need to...